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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 














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A 



DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



IN 



MEXICAN MISSION HOMES, 



BY NANNIE EMORY HOLDING. 



ILLUSTRATED. 



Nashville, Tenn. : 

Publishing House Methodist Episcopal Church, South. 

Barbee & Smith, Agents. 

1895. 







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*? 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1895, 

By Nannie Emory Holding, 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



DEDICATION. 



This Little Story was Written 
For the Women and Children of Methodism, 

and is Dedicated to the 

Woman's Board of Missions of the Methodist 

Episcopal Church, South, by 

The Author. 



PREFACE. 

As our Mexican work drew toward the close of its tenth 
year I involuntarily began to incorporate into my annual report 
the principal features of its growth. As the writing grew under 
the inspiration of the moment, I jestingly said to Miss Harper, 
"Mrs. McGavock will think I have sent her a book." She an- 
swered, " Put it aside and make it a book." Her suggestion 
gave birth to this simple story of our daily life in the Mission 
homes. 

Chihuahua, Mex., October 20, 189i. 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER I. PAGE 

Introductory — Arrival— Girls' School— 1883-1884— Liredo 
Seminary Band — Cottie Hoge Library— Well — Initial 
"Concert" 9 

CHAPTER II. 

1884-1885. 

New Building — Windmill — Visitors — Lawsuit 37 

CHAPTER III. 

1885-1886. 

New Property — Boys — Monterey Conference 57 

CHAPTER IV. 

188G-1887. 

Home-going 75 

CHAPTER V. 

1887-1888. 

Faith Hall— Saltillo 93 

CHAPTER VI. 

1888-1889. 

The Laundry — Central Conference — Durango Work Adopted 

— Property Purchased in Saltillo 109 1 

CHAPTER VII. 

1889-1890. 

Harvest Year — San Luis Potosi — Laredo Day School — Chi- 
huahua 141 



8 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

1890-1891. page 

Charter — First Graduates — Woman's Work — Quarantine — 
Durango Property — Nuevo Laredo Day School — Christ- 
mas 166 

CHAPTER IX. 

1891-1892. 

Drought — Barracks — Conference of Missionaries — Ancient 
Mexico 199 

CHAPTER X. 

1892-1893. 

Famine — Typhus — West End Day School — Weddings 235 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 
IE" MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



CHAPTER I. 

INTRODUCTORY — ARRIVAL — GIRLS' SCHOOL — LAREDO SEMINARY 
BAND — COTTIE HOGE LIBRARY — WELL — INITIAL "CONCERT." 

"For as the earth bring eth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth 
the tilings that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God voill 
cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." 

THE first instrument in God's hands of turning the 
attention of our women toward the needs of Mexi- 
co was Rev. A. H. Sutherland, the founder of Southern 
Methodism on the border. As early as 1879, he was 
writing of the great need of Christian education, and 
urged that the children of Mexico should not be forgot- 
ten and left out of the plans and purposes of the Wom- 
an's Board of Missions. In his own words we quote the 
plea: " Will not our dear Christian sisters of the Wom- 
an's Missionary Society help us to possess the land? 
Every new mission we establish on this border is an- 
other star to mingle its rays with the streams of light 
that are pouring down upon this darkened land of nine 
millions of souls." 

Rev. Joseph Norwood took up the plea, and offered to 
receive two girls into his home as the beginning of a 
school for girls. During the year 1880, Mrs. Suther- 
land and Mrs. Norwood had both taken Mexican chil- 
dren into their families as a preparatory step toward an 



10 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



established school. They were full of interest and burn- 
ing desire to see the work put upon a firm basis, and did 
not desist from personal efforts to that end, boarding and 
teaching the children until the appropriation for settled 
work was made at the annual meeting in the spring 
of 1881. September of the same year found Miss An- 
nie Williams and 
Miss B e b e c c a 
Toland, the first 
two missionaries 
sent to this field 
by the Woman's 
Board, ready for 
service. 

Ground had 
been donated to 
the work of the 
Board by Bev. 

Elias Bobertson 
— that on which 
Laredo Semina- 
ry now stands. 
After the second 
building was 
erected, he gave 
another block, 
which, by ex- 
Ra.. Elias Robertson. change with the 

city, made it possible for us to extend our borders. As the 
work grew, and he saw that it was no longer an experi- 
ment, he established the "Bobertson Scholarship." Two 
of the graduates of the seminary have come to their 
honors through this gift of our generous, large-hearted 
brother, whose memory we love to honor. We lost a 




IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 11 

friend indeed when God called him home. He was ever 
ready with kindly interest and advice to help us over 
many a rough place in those early days. 

After brother Robertson's gift to the Board, estimates 
and plans for building were submitted to the Executive 
Committee by Mr. William Headen in the spring of 1882. 
While the building was in progress, day schools were 
opened by Miss Williams at Concepcion, and Miss Toland 
at Laredo (the first married to Rev. J. F. Corbin in April, 
1883, the latter bearing her part bravely until now). 
From these two day schools, where prejudice was first 
broken, pupils were drawn for the seminary which was 
opened in the fall of 1882. 

I would not in the least degree depreciate the labors 
of these faithful missionaries who thus laid the founda- 
tion of the work, but the birthday of Mexican Missions 
for me is October 20, 1883, the day when I first entered 
Laredo Seminary; and it is from this date that I begin 
to write the story of our Mission homes. 

In this retrospect, it is almost as if I hold in my grasp 
a beautiful and sacred volume, upon whose every page 
I behold the unfolding of a divinely laid plan. 

Standing to-day at the close of the first decade of the 
work which the Lord has committed to my keeping, I 
feel that there are no fitting words to express the praise 
due unto his name for that which, by his blessing, has 
been accomplished. From "the day of small things " he 
hath indeed caused to spring forth "righteousness and 
praise " before the nations. 

As 1 took hold of the work, I had but little concep- 
tion of the beauty and grandeur of that which was to 
spring from the " day of small things." The eye of faith 
did not see, in the four-room building called " Laredo 
Seminary," five beautiful, large Mission homes in as 



12 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

many different cities, with prospering day schools be- 
sides; nor could it discern in the little band of seven chil- 
dren the multitude of happy boys and girls filling with 
work and laughter and song the halls and homes sup- 
plied by the Woman's Board. 

1883-84. 
Laredo Seminary. 

1 cannot forget the thrill which passed through my 
soul as I stood for the first time at the door of the little 
mission situated upon the burning sand of Laredo's des- 
ert waste. " It shall blossom as the rose." As the words 
came, with almost the clearness of human utterance, it 
was as if the Master himself had stooped to cheer my 
heart. 

One has but to glance at Laredo Seminary of 1893 to 
see in it a literal fulfillment of the promise: "Instead of 
the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the 
brier shall come up the myrtle tree." Step by step, from 
the two small buildings upon one block of land, the school 
has grown, until it includes within its boundary lines 
seven blocks of land, or an area of over fourteen acres, 
upon which are situated seven buildings with seventy 
rooms. Year by year more room was needed, and year 
by year the way opened to supply the lack. Sometimes, 
from almost impenetrable darkness, the light came in 
radiant splendor, shining upon all the way so there could 
be no mistake in walking in it. 

The seven little ones, who welcomed us in the soft 
tones of their musical language on that beautiful Octo- 
ber morning, formed the nucleus of our girl's school. 

In those early days, when prejudice and fanaticism 
seemed a part of Laredo atmosphere, naturally the 
growth of the school was slow. We considered it a 



14 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

special providence when any of our dark- browed sisters 
would so far forget their timidity as to call at our home. 
And great was our joy when a mother came, bringing 
her little girl of scarcely seven. For more than live 
years we were permitted to watch the unfolding of this 
child's nature. We saw her grow almost into woman- 
hood; saw the awakening of the spiritual life; then she 
was not, for God took her. 

I remember the coming of another child, " found down 
by the river," so the children said. How lovely, and yet 
how forlorn, the five-year-old baby seemed. She is still 
with us, growing, developing. Her place to-day is among 
the dearly beloved ones of the family. I might tell of 
others, for the coming of each was an event; but after 
that first year memory is lost in a maze, for not one or 
two, but scores and scores of bright, eager faces press 
forward for recognition. Some have " passed over," some 
are wives and mothers, some are teachers in our Mission 
schools, teachers in public schools, teachers in private 
schools; circle within circle, ever widening, wid< ning, 
whose breadth can only be covered by eternity's ^ea. 
Those seven little ones have had their number added to 
until nearly one thousand girls have been brought un- 
der the influence of the life-giving power of the blessed 
gospel of Him who hath led and guided all the way. As 
I glance over the above sentence two sisters rise before 
me seeming to say, reproachfully: "Have you forgot- 
ten that you considered us your first Christmas dona- 
tion? how we came to you on that very loveliest of all 
Christmas days? how glad you were to welcome us, 
and how shyly we met your advances? You may have 
forgotten, but we have not, for that day was the open- 
ing of a new life to us. For six blessed years we were 
inmates of your home. Though we may often, by our 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



15 



carelessness and perversity, have tried your patience, we 
protest against being forgotten, for we stand to-day 
among your loving children who are trying to do their 
part in the world's great battle." Indeed, I beg pardon 




Miguel 



for seeming to forget you, our New Mexico children. 
As you come before me I recall many incidents of your 
life among us. I remember, Arebela, your first English 



16 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

letter to your father. No doubt you have forgotten it 
long ago. Let me repeat from memory's page: "Dear 
papa, you said when I could write in English you would 
give me anything I wanted. I ask only this, that you 
give your heart to Jesus, whom I have learned to love." 

Pressing close after these came the three sisters from 
Mexico as a gift o± the new year. One of them became 
a helper in the day school established some years after- 
wards in Laredo. Daring the intervening years how 
faithfully she helped me bear the burdeu of domestic 
affairs. Dear Lucia, her quick, eager ways and cheerful 
spirit often made the rough places smooth for my weary 
feet. To day she is a happy wife and mother, and her 
little boy, Miguel, among my best loved grandchildren. 

Here and there, scattered among these olive buds 
from the ancient Aztec root, we would sometimes see 
the pure white flower of Saxon origin. Of these were 
Lizzie and Flossie, two bright, lovely children, who 
quite often forgot they were in the minority; but they 
were made to remember it, when attempting to hold too 
queenly a sway over their dark-eyed companions. As 
a rule, these two classes — the conquered Aztec and the 
conquering Saxon — played, sang, and studied harmoni- 
ously side by side as though they had sprung from the 
same race. We, too, knew no difference; each alike 
found its way to the heart. Lizzie, having no mother, 
grew to be as a daughter to me; coming to me for 
counsel and advice in her times of doubt. Fain would 
I have kept her in the dear old home. Flossie was full 
of bright, mischievous ways, which often caused reproof 
to fall upon the winsome child, though in no degree 
lessening the affection which was so freely lavished 
upon her. To-day these, the first two American chil- 
dren who found a place in our home and school and 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 17 

lives, are making homes of their own. Not long since, 
Flossie, with baby Arthur, was spending the day with 
us. As she ran hither and thither, playing hide and 
seek with her beautiful boy, along the broad vine-clad 
galleries, which had so often resounded 1o her childish 
laughter, she seemed to us as lovely and as lovable as in 
the days of old. 

Many tender memories cluster around our first Christ- 
mas in our Mission home. It was at this time that Mrs. 
Park made her first visit to Laredo. A stranger then, 
but ever afterwards my trusted, honored friend. I re- 
member how it came about that she visited us at that 
time. I was just beginning the work; I saw the need 
of many, many things to make our home more comfort- 
able and the grounds more attractive. Not knowing 
how far I might venture, in trying to place the work as 
a whole before the people, 1 wrote our Secretary, asking 
if it would be possible for some member of the Board 
to be sent that she might see and present our needs. 
So it was that Mrs. Park came to us, and for her visit 
we have never ceased to be glad and grateful. A truer, 
nobler friend has never been ours, and from that day 
to this she has been closely allied with the Mexican 
Mission. 

On that first Christmas, she discovered — I have never 
exactly understood how — that there was no Christmas 
turkey on hand. This was not in accordance with her 
idea of Christmas, so she determined that she would find 
a large turkey for her missionaries and their little flock. 
I did not know of her purpose, when she made known 
that she had important business in town. I intimated 
that we were too far out for her to walk, the sand deep 
and the sun hot, even though it wa.s Christmas time. I 
was more than willing to attend to anything she desired. 
2 



18 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



No, she alone could accomplish her object. Of course 
the result, to the enjoyment of the inmates of our home, 
was a Christmas dinner according to time-honored cus- 
tom. 

It was in this winter of 1883 that we became ac- 
quainted with 
our Mexican 
brother, Eev. 
J. P. Eodriguez. 
It was through 
him that we 
received the 
Christmas do- 
nation of the 
two New Mex- 
ico children. 
He,too,through 
all these years 
has proved a 
faithful, tender 
friend. Ysabel 
and Maria, his 
grandchildren, 
were two of the 
seven. Ysabel 
became our 
first native 
helper. As 1 
write, a pleas- 
ing little inci- 
dent in her child life occurs to me. During that first 
year I began giving the children a text, morning and 
night. At night I used Miss Havergal's " Little Pillows." 
The texts are so simple, so lovely, that any child, no mat- 




Our First Christmas Donation. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 19 

ter how small or weak, may comprehend. One night, 
when all were still, and as I thought, quietly sleeping, I 
heard the sound of bare feet on the stair. I hastened to 
see the cause. Ysabel was half-way down, seeming to 
hesitate whether to come on or to return. Upon my 
exclamation of " Child, why out of your bed so late at 
night?" she answered: "Oh, I have forgotten my little 
pillow ! Please let me have it, then I can sleep." 

During this year, one of the discomforts to which we 
were subjected was that of defective flues. It seemed 
to have been thought that as fire was so little needed 
in this climate, any kind of flue would answer the pur- 
pose. There were plenty of flues of the kind, two in a 
room, one north, the other south. We wondered why 
two should be necessary, if it were really so, as every 
one said, "One rarely needs fire in this climate, except 
when there is a norther." I had not known a "nor- 
ther" from personal experience, but when told that they 
might come at any moment from October to April, of 
never less than three days in duration, no respecter of per- 
sons, time, or circumstances, and that when they did come 
I would most certainly know it — for the wind blew from 
north, east, south, and west without reference to any 
prescribed rule — I concluded that the better part of valor 
would be to prepare for the coming contest by putting 
up a stove. Beautiful, bright, and lovely were those 
November and December days: mornings and evenings 
cool enough for fire, which gave a cheery, homelike as- 
pect to our two rooms. The little stove was certainly a 
treasure. At noon, with doors and windows open, we 
reveled in summer warmth and beauty. As the busy, 
happy days flew by, we decided that the story of the 
"norther" was a myth. Alas for dreams of undisturbed 
earthly bliss and ease ! I think it must have been some 



20 A DECADE OE MISSION LIFE 

time in January when, one day, Miss Toland suddenly 
exclaimed, "A norther! " and with a quickness born of 
sad experience began to close windows and shut doors. 
Our children — twelve — came rushing in, some crying, 
"A sand storm!" others, "A norther! a norther!" To 
say the wind blew, would be putting it too mildly ; to 
unaccustomed ears, it simply shrieked; it 

"Blew as 'twad blown its last; 
The rattling show'rs rose on the blast." 

With the shaking doors and rattling windows; with 
the drifting sand bursting through every crevice, filling 
eyes, ears, and mouth; piling in heaps upon the floor; 
drifting upon chairs and beds — surely, under such ad- 
verse circumstances, we had enough to keep ourselves 
calm, and quiet the children; but a more trying experi- 
ence awaited us. The cry burst forth, "Look at the 
stove! " The wind, sweeping down the narrow flue, was 
driving the smoke into the room; with another roar, 
shake, and clatter, the door of the stove flew open, and 
ashes and flame burst out. In the confusion one cried 
one thing, one another, when Miss Toland, equal to the 
emergency, said : " We will move it to the other side." 
The other side! What could she mean? Was there 
really another side to this fearful situation? While I 
stood as one dazed, she was already at work, with folded 
towels, papers, and everything available, and with the 
help of sister and the children, she was carrying the 
" little treasure " to the "other side." Ah! light began 
to dawn upon my clouded brain! The mystery of two 
flues was solved With renewed hope I sprang forward 
to grasp the tottering pipe. The stove being light and 
the room small, the feat of " changing sides " was soon 
accomplished. With a sigh of relief, we stood for a 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 21 

moment contemplating our work. The wind still shook 
window and door with unabated force, and the sand still 
drifted, forming little billowy waves over the floor, just 
as we had seen and admired it a few days before when 
out walking with the children. Then we thought it 
very beautiful, as the children played in it. Some 
dropped into it, others heaping it over them buried 
themselves from sight, still others measured their length 
in it, and others marked footprints in the soft, white 
bed. The gleeful laughter of childish voices awakened 
the echoes, which, coming back to us in softened cadence, 
awoke other echoes in our hearts. How often, in the 
Kentucky home, we, as children, had played in the white 
snow, as these were playing now in the white sand of 
the Bio Grande. Yes, it was very beautiful then, but 
now the scene had changed; there were no rosy tints of 
sunset glow glistening upon it now as it lay in provok- 
ing heaps upon the floor, tables, chairs, and beds; cover- 
ing clothing, face, and hands; nor had smoke, cinders, 
and soot been chary of their gifts. That moment of re- 
lief was short, for as we lifted our eyes to each other's 
face with words of congratulation at the success of our 
efforts, we saw what a grotesque group we formed, and 
peal after peal of laughter burst from our lips. And 
this was not the end, the increasing cold made it neces- 
sary to add more fuel to the slumbering coals; the wind, 
not to be outdone, suddenly changed its course, and, as 
it seemed to us, redoubled its fury as it again drove the 
smoke into the room. As there was no " other side " 
left, there was nothing to do but to put out the fire, and 
for the rest of the night make ourselves as comfortable 
as possible under the direful circumstances. 

The cleaning process of the next day I leave to the 
imagination. These scenes of " changing sides " were 



22 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



not "once, nor twice." Every possible and impossible 
device was suggested to render our flues serviceable, but 
all to no avail. Every norther brought the same dis- 
comfort and labor. Fortunately that winter was one of 




Brother Rodriguez, 
Maria, 



Victoriana, 
Lupita. 



Nicolasa, 



the shortest and mildest we have ever known in Laredo. 

During that year, as our numbers gradually increased, 

we were in a dilemma to know how to accommodate 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 23 

thirty children, when we had been so sure that there was 
only room for twelve, by a little crowding. Finally, we de- 
cided to subject ourselves to a little crowding in our own 
-apartments. Cots were placed in both rooms close to- 
gether, leaving only standing space between. Many 
times we had to seek our beds in self-defense, because 
there was no walking or sitting room. During the day 
the cots were folded and set aside, and the space convert- 
ed into reception, class, and music rooms, and, as it some- 
times occurred, into hospital use. Once we had decided 
to put a sick child in my room as being more private 
than Miss Toland's. The night had closed in upon us, 
warm and sultry; doors and windows were wide open; 
now and then a ray of moonlight from between the 
parting clouds fell in softened radiance on the face of 
the sleeping child, while I lay quietly watching by her 
side. From past experience I had learned to read " the 
signs of the times." I felt sure that the dead stillness of 
the night was but the forerunner of the fierce, relentless 
norther; and it so proved: by morning it was upon us, 
and to add to the distress of the occasion, our sick child 
was no better, and we found it necessary to call the doc- 
tor, Flossie's father. He came just as the other side had 
been occupied. By this time practice had made us ex- 
perts in making the change. Traces of smoke still lin- 
gered, but we were more than ordinarily comfortable, and 
I knew the doctor was too polite to notice or speak of 
any sign of discomfort. To my consternation I saw that 
the smoke was increasing instead of going out. I turned 
to the stove. Tiny puffs of smoke were curling out into 
the room, giving warning, as I too well knew, of what it 
meant to do. I looked at the doctor, who was quietly 
giving directions, at the same time writing the prescrip- 
tion, handkerchief in one hand, pencil in the other. 



24 A DECADE OE MISSION LIFE 

Suddenly the smoke, no longer to be restrained, burst in 
volumes into the room. With ejaculations of which I 
did not know our good doctor was capable, and a faint 
" Please excuse," he made a rush for the gallery, where 
sentence and ejaculations were finished under his breath. 
We afterwards made it a laughing matter, but at the 
time I was too much concerned about the patient to 
notice the ludicrous. 

Acting upon the doctor's advice, 1 wrote the same day 
to Mrs. McG-avock, our loved Secretary, describing the 
situation, and asking permission to use the contingent 
fund to put in an old-fashioned country fireplace ; for we 
could think of nothing else by means of which we 
could get even with our "enemy." When the mason 
came, our only stipulation was, "Make it large enough." 
Since then we have not felt altogether easy when some 
one would slyly remark: " Brick enough for a small-sized 
house!" We comforted ourselves, however, with the 
thought that there were many things not dreamed of in 
Horatio's philosophy: we knew, and they did not. 

But to turn to other matters. Laredo Seminary Band 
was organized in the fall of that first year, since which 
time nearly four hundred dollars have been given to 
various charitable objects. Sometimes the money was 
sent to the Treasurer at Nashville, sometimes it went to- 
ward the support of some waif less fortunate than her as- 
sociates, sometimes toward the native preacher's salary. 
At one time, when the Band was small, how happy they 
were to be able to send ten dollars to the relief of orphan 
children! They were not satisfied with this, but added 
stockings, aprons, dresses, etc., from their own scant sup- 
ply, until we had to offer a word of restraint. 

From the Band came our first converts. After Faith 
Hall became a verity, we organized the Faith Hall 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



25 



Church, into which fold we gathered the little ones as 
they came to Christ. 

Before we had the comfort and blessing of a place, our 
very own, in which to worship, we thought it right and 
best to go with the children every Sunday morning to 
the church in 
the city, a mile 
away. The sand 
was deep, the 
sun hot, or the 
wind strong ; 
sometimes 
there was a 
combination of 
the three, and 
we with not 
much physical 
strength to bat- 
tle with the ele- 
ments; but we 
knew it was 
right, did i t , 
and found a 
blessing in the 
doing. 

One incident 
of that Sunday- 
going comes to 
mind. It was 
the day that Bishop MoTyeire was to preach for us. It 
was quite an event in our lives. A mother never took 
more pride in seeing her children well dressed — no 
mother ever had so many — than 1, as I looked upon oar. 
thirty olive-browed, sparkling-eyed children, arrayed in 




Mrs. Annie Williams Corbin. 



26 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

their pink lawn dresses, which it had taken us far into 
the night to make ready. (That was before the dear 
home workers knew how to save us the weary stitch of the 
midnight hour, and before our children knew the pleas- 
ure of "my society.") Our children were very bright, 
pretty, and happy in their new dresses — ah! I forget; 
there was one in tears, because the ribbon on her hair 
was not so fresh as her neighbor's. We filed them out, 
two by two, Miss Toland at the head of the column, and 
I bringing up the rear with the wee ones. We trudged 
on quite bravely, keeping a pretty straight line consider- 
ing the depth of the sand. Just on the outskirts of the 
city we saw Bishop McTyeire coming to meet us. A 
bright smile lighted up his face as he halted us, and 
stepped aside with that grand military air which be- 
longed so peculiarly to Bishop McTyeire. I think he 
was a general without knowing it. He spoke of the 
bright faces and neat appearance of the children; com- 
mended the order with which we marched, though he 
reproved us for being too close together; placed us two 
feet apart, said that was the proper distance; gave the 
order "Forward, march!" and in a moment we were 
moving toward the courthouse where he was to preach. 
As we marched along the narrow streets of Laredo, he 
noticed and spoke of the difference between the ap- 
pearance of our neatly attired children and the ragged 
squalor of those who met us at almost every step. He 
said : " We do not fully appreciate the power of the silent 
influence of appearance." We cannot easily forget the 
practical sermon of that Sunday morning, "The five 
talents;" neither can we forget how well the children 
sang, until the leader began to pout because " I cannot 
have a book all to myself." 

An amusing incident occurred the following day. The 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 27 

bishop was to dine with us, and the children were to 
have a holiday in honor of his presence. As we older 
ones lingered at the dinner table to enjoy the rare conver- 
sational powers of Bishop McTyeire, the children quietly 
dispersed. In the midst of the conversation the thought 
came to us. "How quiet the children seem!" and we 
congratulated ourselves upon their good behavior. Aft- 
erwards one whose conscience was more tender, or whose 
love of "telling" was greater, revealed the fact that 
they had taken advantage of our prolonged stay in the 
dining room to indulge in an impromptu ball, having 
first taken the precaution to place a sentinel to give the 
alarm at the first movement of the enemy in the room 
below. We do not remember which was the greater, 
the bishop's amusement or our consternation at the se- 
cret of such unusual stillness. A ball was given on the 
following evening to which all were invited. At its 
close Flossie said: "If you will not make me dance any 
more, I promise never to dance at the seminary. Til just 
do it at homer 

Those early days of " beginnings" are the ones which 
come most readily at memory's call. It was near the 
Christmas of 1884. The thought had been put into the 
heart of friends living in Frankfort, Ky., to send their 
missionary a box. Since then the precious Christmas 
season has come and gone, until ten times it has flooded 
our lives with its brightness, bringing gifts of love from 
far-away friends; gifts from many who knew us not, 
but who loved us for the Master's sake. Standing out 
clear and bright among those many gifts, with its own 
mission to perform, was that first book from the first 
Christmas box. Lifting it from its place among the 
perishable things, I turned its leaves lightly, and found 
it a pleasing child's story. Holding it aloft, in view of 



28 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

the little ones pressing forward to see what a Christmas 
box could contain, I said: "Look, children! this is the 
beginning of Laredo Seminary library! " When I wrote 
our thanks I mentioned the little book, and told our 
purpose concerning it. A few weeks went by, when 
one morning a letter came, telling of the pleasure a lit- 
tle girl had taken in helping prepare the Christmas box 
for the Mexican children; how she had been so eager 
that the book should go too ; how, a short time after, she 
began to fade; how, before our letter reached its des- 
tination, she had passed into the heavenly fold ; how the 
stricken mother, when told of the thought that had 
been given to us, asked that we name the library " Cot- 
tie Hoge," in memory of her precious child. Thus our 
library was christened mid sorrow and tears, and, like 
many lives thus touched by sorrow, it has gone on grow- 
ing and blessing all around it. Hundreds of children 
have drawn comfort, pleasure, and profit from Cottie 
Hoge, who " being dead, yet speaketh." With each recur- 
ring anniversary of our Saviour's birth a gift, prompted 
by the love of the mother-heart, finds its way to the 
Cottie Hoge Library. 

Our first year at Laredo was marked by an unusual 
drought; at least it seemed so to us, who had come 
from the bluegrass region of Kentucky. We missed the 
soft, bluish green covering of the earth to which we had 
been accustomed; we missed sadly the stately trees of 
the forest; we missed the gentle, refreshing showers for 
which we had looked at regular intervals. The one 
small cistern, with the scarcity of rain, soon proved in- 
adequate to the needs of our growing family. One day 
the words "no water!" fell like a knell upon the ear. 
We knew that as soon as it should be known to the 
children there would follow a universal outcry. So it 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 29 

proved. Nearly every one of the thirty, if not all, were 
famishing, if we were to believe their statement. True 
the murky waters of the Eio Grande flowed within two 
hundred yards of the door, but to us it might have been 
double the distance for any available service in our 
need. To buy water for a family of thirty-five seemed 
a great undertaking, yet there was no other solution of 
the problem. 

In those days, with the exception of Dr. Atlee and 
brother, Mr. William Headen, and Dr. Arthur, our friends, 
loved and honored, whose kindness has proved unfailing 
through the changing scenes of the passing years, the 
citizens of Laredo seemed to know nothing about us. (It 
is not so now.) We were really a little world, moving 
upon our own axis, working out our own schemes, aims, 
and purposes. When any difficulty, as that of the water, 
arose, a consultation as to the best mode of procedure 
soon determined oar course of action. In this case Miss 
Toland offered to find the " waterman who had the lar- 
gest tank of all," and she thought, by some extra con- 
sideration which she might offer, he would be willing to 
bring us the water Of this we were all somewhat 
doubtful, for every one, in his own line, had refused 
to bring anything to us; the excuse being invariably, 
"We don't know where you live," "It is too far out," 
•" We will have to charge extra," etc. In this case, 
Miss Toland thought she could present our urgent need, 
and by making the " extra " sufficiently enticing, prob- 
ably bring the matter to a successful issue. With this 
object in view, in company with one of the larger girls, 
she braved the long, hot, sandy walk to town, and the 
longer, hotter tramp through its dusty streets. The 
ohildren, seeing there was a prospect of relief, accepted 
the situation according to their different dispositions. 



30 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

Some went contentedly to their play, while others de~ 
cided to quietly fret it out. As the weary hours passed, 
bringing neither Miss Toland nor the long-coveted water, 
a general clamor again arose, and refused to be calmed, 
until, my own patience reaching its limit, I commanded 
silence, holding out the prospect of something beyond 
unless immediately obeyed. After a seemingly inter- 
minable length of time, Miss Toland returned with her 
usual success. The "extra" having proved sufficient, 
the water wagon quickly followed, and the " famishing" 
children had soon forgotten their distress. This water- 
man became our friend, serving us faithfully until a well 
could be had. 

From the first, we had thought a well a necessity, but 
conflicting advice had prevented its becoming a cer- 
tainty. Some wells in the vicinity had proved too 
brackish for use, and it was considered an expensive 
experiment, as one could not be made for less than sev- 
eral hundred dollars. We knew a large school, such as 
we trusted ours would be, could not be established with- 
out an abundance of pure water to meet the continually 
growing demand. Therefore, the " experiment " was 
made. Great was the rejoicing when water was reached 
and found to be passably good. 

Soon after we had gotten our new possession, Bishop 
Parker and Rev. A. H. Sutherland called at the Mission 
home. Being almost as much elated as children over a 
new toy, we had to speak of the well as something pecul- 
iarly precious. As both of these friends had had in their 
travels some personal experience of the discomfort of 
scarcity of good water, they at once congratulated us, 
and the bishop decided that he must not only see, but 
must be permitted to drink from its cooling depths. 
With considerable pride and pleasure, we led the way. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



31 



The bishop, looking over the brink — windmills were 
still a dream — said: "It is deep; how do you get at it?" 
I replied : "It is forty feet, and we draw with bucket 




" Flossie." 



and rope." " Too hard work, too hard work for women 
and children," he said. "Bring the things here, and let 
me and Sutherland have a hand at this." Before lifting 



32 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

the glass to his lips, he held it up a moment, looking 
scrutinizingly at the clear water. Remarking upon its 
clearness, he tasted, stopped, held it from him, looked at 
it again, while we stood smilingly expecting a eulogy 
upon the limpid thing. " Magnesia," came slowly from 
the bishop's lips; tasting it again, "Saltpeter," he qui- 
etly said; once more lifting the glass, the words came, 
" Salt, unmistakably salt." At this point we entered a 
protest, and he, seeing our chagrin, laughingly put down 
the glass, saying, as he did so: "Never mind, it is better 
than none, and no doubt will answer your every pur- 
pose." Not many months afterwards our bishop had no 
need of earthly wells of water, for he stood face to face 
with Him who supplieth every want from His own un- 
wasting fullness. 

As time drew near for the close of school, we anx- 
iously discussed the propriety and expediency of giving 
a " little entertainment." There were many obstacles in 
the way, chief among which were our raw material and 
lack of a suitable room. At this time we were teaching 
in the one-room basement; a low, dark, uncomfortable 
apartment, which has since been converted into bath- 
rooms for the children. As my room was at times class- 
room, hospital, and guest chamber, so that of Miss To- 
land had its several uses — sala and music room. The 
elasticity of our old quarters was something remarkable, 
the mystery of which remains unsolved unto this day. 
I remember several times, when visitors came, sister and 
I slipped away for the night into a little canvas room, 
cut off from one end of the children's dormitory, and 
Miss Toland had the happy faculty of making herself 
very small and stowing herself away somewhere. 

In discussing the merits of the many places in which 
our closing exercises might be held, we finally decided 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



33 



that the sala, Miss Toland's room, would be the most 
appropriate. 

Having found a suitable place, we set about getting 
our " raw material " into some kind of presentable order. 
Our piano, the 
gift of the Ken- 
tucky Confer- 
ence, rendered 
good service 
on that memo- 
rable occasion, 
through which, 
as I look back 
upon it, I feel 
sure nothing 
less than a sense 
of duty could 
have carried us. 
The children, 
glad to be re- 
leased from the 
dry routine of 
scales and ex- 
ercises, soon, 
with their 
quick percep- 
tion and apt- 
ness for music, 
prepared a 
number of little 




" Baby Maria." 



duets and simple songs. One was eight-) ear-old Flossie's 
solo. The petted child would one day decide that she 
would play " bo pretty for papa," and the next that she 
was " not going to do it for anybody." Finally I brought 



34 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

in a decisive must, which, outwardly at least, ended the 
contest. Calisthenics and recitations fell to the part of 
Miss Toland and sister to prepare. I am sure if they 
were present, while I chronicle the doings of those early 
days, they would insist that I should say mine was the 
easier part. 

The day of the " concert," as the children, much to 
my mortification, would insist on calling it, brought our 
friends, the Atlees, Arthurs, and Headens, with some of 
our Mexican patrons who did not mind being seen in a 
Protestant home. The little Senorita Eloisa Palacios> 
the seminary's first child, bore a prominent part, having 
been under training longer than the others, and, as she 
boastingly said, had been " in such a pretty concert with 
Mrs. Corbin." Everybody had something to do, down 
to seven-year-old Emil and baby Maria. Our friends 
and patrons were kind enough to say, " It was a pleas- 
ant little affair." 

I can remember no special incident connected with 
the " concert," only a feeling of relief when it was over. 
Ah, yes! there was Flossie's little song! I have never 
come to the point of accusing the mischievous child of 
confirming her alternating determination of " would " 
and " wouldn't." Be that as it may, when half through 
the song she poutingly left the piano, and took shelter 
in her father's arms. JSTo doubt she has forgotten this 
episode in her child life; at all events the wavering pur- 
pose left her, for many times since her clear voice has 
risen in flute-like tones before the crowded audiences of 
Faith Hall. 

Some of our children having been in school but a short 
while, we thought it best for them not to return to their 
homes. Two had come in on the closing day — the Reyes 
children, perverse Rosa and beautiful Juana. The lat- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 35 

tor, for many years the joy and pride of her teacher's 
heart, has passed into a far more beautiful home than 
we with all our love could make for her. 



"Baby Arthur." 



After a few days' rest the children were called to- 
gether for a morning session, and in the afternoon given 
their first lessons in the art of buttonhole-making and 



36 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

plain sewing; the larger ones after awhile learning to 
use the machine. 

Before the summer was over quite a number, among 
whom were Channie, Yirginia, and our willing-hearted 
Lucia, had learned to be quite helpful in making their 
own clothing and that of the younger members of the 
family. For five years and more these dear girls stood 
by us, bearing their part of the burden, which the sew- 
ing came to be as the school grew. 

Before the close of that first school term, we knew, we 
must have more room. In preparing our estimates of the 
needs for the coming year this one point was stressed, and 
an appropriation asked for to erect suitable buildings. 

Some months prior to this we were talking over the 
situation with our friend Mrs. Park, who, not looking on 
it through our eyes of faith, thought we need not expect 
more than a wooden dormitory for the first asking, and 
she doubted if we would ever have more. We laugh- 
ingly responded that we knew better, and she should 
come to oversee the building. 

We surprised ourselves, as well as the Foreign Secre- 
tary, by the magnitude of our " first asking." We have 
never been able to venture quite so far since. I am sure 
the Master must have been at work through the silent in- 
fluences of the Spirit, for at the meeting of the Board the 
sum of nine thousand dollars was given us for building. 

The early fall found Mrs. Park with us to assist in 
planning for the new house, which was not to be a 
"wooden dormitory" either. 

The 20th of October dawned upon us, and the happy 
full first year of our Mission life had come to an end. 
Surely He who knoweth the end from the beginning 
had not been unmindful of his own. 



CHAPTER II. 
1884-85. 

NEW BUILDING — WINDMILL — VISITORS — LAWSUIT. 

"Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory." 

THE 20th of October has become a red-letter day to 
me. I keep it not outwardly, but with a quiet 
joy as I do that of my spiritual birth, or rather of my 
spiritual baptism; a day as sacred to me as the blessed 
Sabbath, for is it not that upon which I was permitted 
to enter the active service of the Master? The years 
that had gone had not been void of devoted service. 
True, but somehow now there was a difference. Then, 
there were plans of my own mingled with the desire to 
serve with a single eye. JSTow, I know but the one mind 
and the one service. 

Sometimes there comes to one a day or days that mark 
epochal periods in the life. On one of my trips into Mex- 
ico, as I was returning from Chihuahua, I had been 
watching the light and shade upon a long, low range of 
mountains; some farther away, some nearer, some low- 
er, some higher, but seeming to form one continuous 
line, which after awhile became monotonous. Wearily I 
closed my eyes, and must have slept, for when I opened 
them again, dreamily, the low line had disappeared, and 
in its stead, stately and alone, strongly denned against 
the sky, stood a solitary peak in majestic grandeur; the 
sunlit clouds covered it with a halo of glory, and the 
ethereal haze wrapped it in heavenly blue. I gazed 
upon its sublime beauty until the. flying train bore me 
far away, and I became conscious that the mountain 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 39 

range, which seemed to have been awed into nothingness 
by the majesty of the one peak, had again appeared to 
view. So it is with some days, not many ; two or three 
in a lifetime are all one can bear. They stand alone in 
their sublimity, touched by a divine radiance, in the 
light of which all other days sink into insignificance, and 
held in memory's gaze by a power which fleeting time 
can never break. Two such days — I write it reverently 
— came into my life before I entered the mission field ; one 
of which made me a missionary, the other prepared me 
for service. The 20th of October has become closely 
allied to these two; so it is that I keep it in my heart. 
As it passes it seems as other days, so far as its doings 
are concerned, but to me the voice of the Master in that 
day seems clearer, and 1 start forward on another year's 
journey with renewed faith and stronger hope. 

The day passed, and with its passing we felt ourselves 
committed to another year's work for the Master. We 
entered upon it full of hope and enthusiasm. 

When we were ready with plans for the new building 
and estimates received, we found that the money appro- 
priated fell far short of the lowest figures. There was 
nothing to do but to replan the whole thing. 

When sister and I were growing up, we were often 
thrown upon our own resources, and at times one was 
very much amused at the expense of the other in her 
efforts to reverse the order of things, and cut the pattern 
to suit the cloth. Many times in our mission work we 
have been forced to repeat these efforts with not always 
like amusement. This was one of the instances: the 
pattern was all right, but the cloth was too short, and we 
felt the gravity of the situation. 

After much deliberating and consulting as to the best 
mode of action, we began the cutting process. Ceilings 



40 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

were lowered, length and width of rooms shortened, base- 
ment left unfinished, number of schoolrooms cut down, 
chapel left off; we decided that one stairway would be 
sufficient, and a side hall not necessary; less wainscoting 
would answer. Mr. Breeding, our architect, was both 
amused and gratified to find, that our ambition had crept 
into much more limited quarters. 

Again estimates were submitted, and to our great joy 
we had money left over, which Mr. Breeding said would 
be needed, should we desire later to make changes. 
Within a few days work was begun in earnest and rap- 
idly carried forward. 

It was about this time that we began to see the way 
open to get the windmill which we had so longed for ever 
since the well was dug. Through Dr. Atlee's kindness it 
was purchased; and soon the click, click of the wheel 
was sweetest music to the ear, for we knew it meant a 
plentiful supply of water within doors, and without a 
velvety sward and tender vine and fig. 

With the coming of this blessing, sister's insatiable 
love of flowers and of their cultivation and care, which 
sun and sand had held in check, burst forth. Taking 
this as a privileged part of her labor, her indomitable 
energy was expended in sowing seed, setting grass, plant- 
ing trees, superintending grading, and in any other effort 
that would enhance the beauty of our home. 

Mr. Onderdonk, proprietor of Victoria Nursery, Texas, 
became our friend during this year. Hundreds of trees 
and plants have found their way to us through his be- 
neficent hands. The Mission would, by his kindness and 
sister's labors, have been a perfect bower of beauty and 
verdure had wind always blown in time, had tanks al- 
ways kept full, and had windmills never broken. But 
these things would come upon us, and we were afterwards 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 41 

grieved by the sight of withered leaf and parched grass; 
for we well knew by those signs that the labor of months 
was being forever lost. 

I often think that one with less persistency than my 
sister would have become discouraged in the constant 
battle with opposing elements. But she would go to 
work after each defeat as hopefully as if she expected 
every flower to give forth a wealth of bloom, and every 
tree to extend its spreading branches over future gener- 
ations. Because of her hopefulness and determination, 
we are never without flowers, grass, and trees. 

Before the foundation of the new house was ready for 
the brickwork, Mrs. Park was called home by family af- 
fliction. Much to our regret we saw her leave, for it had 
been our desire to have her lay the first brick. 

We had at this time in our family a little girl, Ester 
Hernandez, the daughter of the first convert to Protest- 
antism in the Mission. After Mrs. Park left we ap- 
pointed Ester to the honor we had intended for our 
friend. I think she appreciated it to the fullest extent, 
for ever afterwards she would speak of the seminary as a 
part of her possessions, and would sometimes assume lit- 
tle dictatorial airs which were not always unbecoming 
to her. How many hopes clustered around this little 
Mexican girl; how many plans were laid for her future 
happiness; how carefully she was trained and counseled! 
Quick, impetuous Ester! Her short life was a constant 
change of sunshine and shower. Though so full of mis- 
chief, she was very frail and delicate. Many a sleepless 
night we have passed beside her sick couch. Owing to 
her nervous temperament, she was not always upon 
friendly terms with her associates. Just before she was 
called away, I was making my nightly rounds, and found 
her sleeping, without having undressed or turned the 



42 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

cover of her cot. The day had been unusually trying^ 
and Ester unusually willful. I had sent her away from 
me with the command not to return until she could 
come in a gentle spirit. As I placed my hand upon the 
sleeping child to arouse her, the thought came: " I wonder 
if Ester will ever learn to be obedient?" As she opened her 
eyes and sleepily looked at me, I said reprovingly, "My 
child, why do you give me this trouble?" and was about 
to add stronger words of censure, when a bright smile 
broke over her face, and she said in the sweet accents 
of her broken English: "I want see you; I want you 
forgive me. So many people want see you; so many,, 
many stay so long, and I get so sleepy." As I stooped 
to give her the pardoning kiss, she looked at me again 
and said joyously and quaintly, "Now I am in friends 
with everybody." Three happy days she passed at my 
side, and then, almost without warning, she was gone. 
We laid the little lifeless form in a quiet corner of the 
seminary ground, to await the reunion of body and soul 
in the glorious resurrection hour. 

One morning while the building was going on I had 
need to speak to the contractor. I asked one of the 
workmen to tell Mr. E. that I wished to see him. He re- 
turned in a few moments, saying: '• He is not here, but I 
will tell him as soon as he comes." Several times during 
the day I went into the building with the hope of seeing 
him. The day passed, and he did not come. The follow- 
ing day it was the same. Some said, "He is sick;" 
others, "We do not know why he is not here." The 
third day it began to be rumored that he had thrown up 
the contract. 

The payments were to have been made in four install- 
ments, three to be paid at certain stages of the work, 
and the fourth at its completion. At this time the third 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 43 

payment had been made, and we were all beginning to 
look forward with eagerness to the time when we should 
take possession. During the first day of the rumor an 
occasional sound of hammer or the voice of workmen 
was heard, but as soon as it was positively known that 
the contractor was gone the work ceased. Mr. Breeding 
and Mrs. Park were both absent; there was no one with 
whom we could advise; bills from sub-contractors and 
workmen began to pour in. I saw almost at a glance 
that the money in hand would not meet these, besides 
leaving the building only three-fourths finished. Mr. 
Breeding was notified to come at once. Matters were 
assuming a serious aspect. Sub-contractors were threat- 
ening to bring suit; some of the workmen went so far 
as to say the building should be burned (though the 
names of those who said it were kept carefully con- 
cealed) if their money was not forthcoming. 

Before Mr. Breeding could reach us one of the claim- 
ants had barred doors and windows, and we were warned 
to keep out. We felt as if we were passing through 
some troubled dream ; surely the awakening would come, 
and we would find it only a dream ! No ; days and weeks 
passed, still doors remained closed, and we seemed no 
nearer a solution of the difficulty than at the beginning. 
Our hearts grew sick with hope deferred. The great, 
silent thing seemed to mock us, as our crowding children 
made us turn longingly to its ample walls. 

While we thought things were standing still Mr. 
Breeding had been trying to get the work again under 
headway. One night, soon after he had returned to 
resume work, and while the doors were still barred, a 
noise was heard, seeming to come from one of the back 
rooms, and soon after a light was seen. Our hearts 
were filled with terror, as we thought that probably the 



44 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



threat to burn had been put in execution. Mr. Breed- 
ing quieted our fears as best he could, but we saw that 
he too was uneasy. The light soon disappeared, but the 
noise continued ; we felt assured that some one had en 




Mrs. S. S. Park. 



tered, and we feared the result. A messenger was dis- 
patched for policemen. When they came they quietly 
demanded entrance, saying that it would fare better with 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 45 

the occupant if he promptly obeyed orders. To our re- 
lief the door opened, and a former workman appeared. 
When questioned he said: "I heard work was to begin 
here again, and 1 was determined it should not, unless 
some assurance were given me that I should receive my 
money." Mr. Breeding tried to make him understand 
that we were in nowise responsible for the failure of the 
contractor. Our sympathy was entirely with the work- 
man, as we heard him tell of the necessities of his fam- 
ily. We begged Mr. Breeding to promise him work and 
prompt pay, though we could not promise anything that 
was due from the former contractor. The officers car- 
ried off their prisoner. As we would not appear against 
him, he was soon released. In a short time afterwards^ 
the work was begun, Mr. Breeding promising to give it 
close attention until finished. We were quite happy 
o^er the result, and now that our troubles seemed at an 
end we felt that the " waiting had not been so bad after 
all." We heard rumors still of " lawsuit," but we gave 
little heed, being too happy in our busy life and too 
hopeful at the prospect before us. 

We had become so crowded in the old home that we 
persuaded Mr. Breeding to finish sufficiently for occu- 
pancy the large dormitory in the second story of the 
new house. The only way of reaching it, at this time, 
was through a window. Mr. Breeding was opposed to 
the movement, thinking the house too open. We had, 
as we told him, slept too long in the old house upon the 
open plain — too crowded to shut doors and windows, 
without even a fence to protect us — to have any feeling 
of fear. He finally yielded to our entreaties, and we 
had the pleasure of moving in through that window. 

After some consultation, Miss Toland and sister de- 
cided that they would take about half of our thirty-five 



46 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

children and occupy the dormitory with them. The 
first night was passed somewhat restlessly, lest Mr. 
Breeding's fears should be realized. One imagined she 
heard somebody climbing the ladder used by the work- 
men through the day; another felt sure she saw some- 
body at the window, " because it was so easy to get up 
that scaffolding." The night wore away, and the morn- 
ing found us ready to make light of our fears. After a 
short time we thought it was almost as easy to go 
through a window as a door. The children said it " was 
much more fun," and we older ones, in a measure, en- 
tered into their hilarity. 

One night, some weeks after they had taken posses- 
sion of the dormitory, I was awakened by considerable 
noise overhead. Mrs. Park had returned; she was oc- 
cupying with me the room just below this famous win- 
dow. After listening awhile, I recognized familiar 
voices. I knew at once something was wrong. Going 
up quickly I found sister and Miss Toland, with some 
of the larger girls, trying to pass with one of the little 
ones tightly wrapped in blankets. It took but a mo- 
ment to understand the situation — the child had waked 
suddenly with croup. We carried her down and placed 
her in front of the large fireplace, for which we had 
never been quite so thankful as at that moment. It 
was our first experience with that subtle disease; but 
Mrs. Park's motherly wisdom, added to our quick obedi- 
ence, brought speedy relief to the patient, who, snugly 
tucked in my own warm bed, was soon quietly sleep- 
ing, unconscious of the danger through which she had 
passed. 

This child, our little Asuncion, was a favorite in the 
family. She, with her sister, Epitacia, were pupils in 
Miss Toland's day school. They had become much at- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 47 

tached to her, and had followed her to the seminary. 
They were bright, pretty, and interesting. They re- 
mained with us for several years, then left us, Epitaeia 
never returning as a pupil. After a lapse of three years, 
Asuncion reentered school, with the hope of becoming 
Si teacher. A short time after her return, she became 
much interested in her personal salvation; came to me 
to talk freely of the sweet, simple story of Christ's love 
— most precious theme to so many millions of souls! 
One lovely Sabbath morning she bowed her head in 
girlish grace to receive our beautiful Christian baptism. 
She was in our day school at Nuevo Laredo for two years, 
as teacher, afterwards entering public school work. 

We have found the public schools one of the main 
difficulties in the way of holding our pupils as native 
helpers in our Mission work; the salary they obtain in 
the one is so much greater than that paid by the other. 
There is a strong feeling of obligation resting upon Mex- 
ican girls to help "papa " or " mamma." As I write sev- 
eral of our children come up before me as in the midst 
of life's battle, having the support of a large family 
bearing upon them. Invariably, to my question of why 
this or that may not be accomplished with the salary, 
the answer is, " Papa needs it," or " Brother has no 
work, and mamma must have it." I have very rarely 
known one of them to spend her salary in personal grat- 
ification. 

The tenderness and affection which Mexicans show 
to one another is very beautiful. I have often known 
fathers of large families who had, in addition to their 
own numerous flock, the care of several orphan children 
of relatives, or friends even — these receiving the same 
care and attention they gave their own. Soon after we 
-entered our new house a Mexican gentleman brought us 



48 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

two little girls — one his own, Severina; the other his* 
niece, Aurelia. Severina was fond of study, and was 
soon far ahead of her slow, plodding cousin. At the 
close of the year we represented to the father the quick 
intelligence of Severina, and our desire that she should 
have every advantage of the school — music, art, etc. But 
no; because Aurelia was not ready Severina must wait; 
he would not have it said that he was giving his daugh- 
ter more than to the other little one, who had no father. 
This is not an exceptional case. We have been con- 
strained time and time again to admire the disinterest- 
edness of these people. 

Before the house was completed sufficiently for us to 
take formal possession, though some of the rooms could 
be comfortably occupied, we had quite a little company 
of friends to visit us. It was on one of Mr. Breeding's 
trips to see the progress of the work that Mrs. Breeding 
came with him, and they were accompanied by Eev. 
Mr. Young, at that time pastor of one of the San An- 
tonio churches. We were expecting on the same even- 
ing a friend of ours from Kentucky, Mr. H. D. Frisbie. 
We remember a feeling of disappointment when the car- 
riage drove up and our friend was missing. Upon in- 
quiry we found that a gentleman answering his descrip- 
tion was on the train, and the impression was that he had 
gone into the city. In a moment we remembered the 
telephone which had been put in that day, and as yet 
had not been used. It has always been a mystery to 
me how children know everything. Often when 1 have 
thought a thing a profound secret I have found them 
discussing it quite freely. Upon this occasion, when I 
reached the telephone, I found almost the entire family 
of children gathered in the hall to hear the first message 
which should go out over its wires. Some were quite 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 49 

incredulous as to the possibility of my words being 
heard a mile away. I secured silence, rang the bell, 
called for the number I desired, but before 1 could re- 
ceive an answer the excitement of the children knew no 
bounds. They felt sure now it was a possible thing, be- 
cause I could not have called for a certain number if I 
had not heard somebody speak. One thought it would 
be delightful to talk to mamma whenever she pleased; an- 
other thought she could order dulces at any moment, etc. 
After much amusement, and vexation as well, I suc- 
ceeded in obtaining an answer to my message, and 
learned that my friend would be out in a few moments. 
Mr. Breeding enjoyed very much the curiosity of the 
children, and teasingly told us the next day that the 
central wanted to know what was the matter at the 
seminary; that he had never heard such a buzz, clatter, 
and commotion before; and then, to the amusement of 
all, he depicted the scene of the previous day. 

It was through the liberality of Mrs. Breeding, of 
Brenham, Tex., that we had felt able to have the tele- 
phone. We looked upon it as her gift for that first 
year. Since then we have considered it an absolute ne- 
cessity. 

I do not think we have ever enjoyed any visitors quite 
so much, certainly none more, than those same friends 
who were so kind and loving in their words of encour 
agement. Before their arrival we had taken possession 
of the large room intended for the main schoolroom, 
which also served for chapel night and morning. I 
sometimes think Mr. Breeding and his workmen must 
have been endowed with an unusual amount of patience, 
for we were so persistently determined to get possession 
that a room was never quite finished before we began 
the cleaning process and set on foot preparations to oc- 
4 



50 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

cupy. Mrs. Park and Mrs. Breeding were often dis- 
tressed because we took hold of the cleaning with such 
expenditure of physical strength; sister and Miss To- 
land never failing to do the part of strong women in 
work to which they had never been accustomed. We 
had to do this for two reasons : one to set an example to 
our girls, who, as a rule, did not respect those who en- 
gaged in manual labor; second, it was almost impossible 
to secure efficient help. 

We were gratified to have so many rooms ready for 
the comfort of our visitors. We had the pleasure of 
hearing Mr. Young preach the first sermon in our new 
house, from the text, " Take us the foxes, the little foxes 
that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes." 
I do not know of any sermon — and we have had a great 
many preached to us — that made such a lasting impres- 
sion upon our children. This might have been due to 
several causes, principally the simple, winning eloquence 
of the preacher; probably somewhat to the opportunity 
we then had of speaking personally to the children, be- 
cause they were few. Be that as it may, for years they 
would speak of that sermon, and we would hear them 
warn each other of the " little foxes." (The dear chil- 
dren of those first two years! can it be possible that not 
one is left in the dear old home? Yes! all, as wives, 
as mothers, as teachers, are scattered along the border 
and to the remotest bounds of the republic of Mexico, 
doing, as we trust, their life-work as Christian women.) 

One of the pleasant little incidents of this time was 
brother Eobertson's visit to us. He was in Laredo on 
business, and came to the seminary to call on brother 
Young, and get acquainted with our Kentucky friend. 
It was his first knowledge of our new rugs, which had 
been put down in honor of our visitors. He was evi- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 51 

dently much amused at our efforts to bring them to his 
notice, and at our anxiety that they should not be too 
much used, because we wanted them fresh for the " new 
bouse." He persistently avoided mentioning them, un- 
til he could draw near enough to whisper, " How can 
missionaries dare indulge in such extravagance?" "We 
laughingly told him he should have the story at the 
first opportunity. Precious friend! always interested in 
everything concerning our home, and entering so freely 
into our pleasures! He did not know how closely he 
touched us, however, by his teasing words, for those 
rugs had been the occasion of many a consultation, and 
arguments pro and con. In those days we did not often 
meet with anything so handsome in Laredo as those 
velvet rugs. We entered upon our Mission the year the 
city was settling into quietness after her first great 
boom. Many rich and elegant articles of household 
goods had been brought on by the merchants during 
that time, and had afterwards to be sold at a great reduc- 
tion. The rugs were bought at one-third their original 
price. There were just four of them, three of similar 
size and pattern, one much smaller. Up to this time we 
had been almost entirely upon bare floors; once we had 
had a cheap matting, which had proved dear because of 
its cheapness. One morning sister settled the matter of 
the rugs, so far as she was concerned, by declaring that 
she would buy the small one for her room. Miss Toland 
almost immediately said she would take one of the large 
ones. After their positive decision, there was nothing 
left but for me to take one for myself and the other for 
the seminary _ Everybody declared it would be so pret- 
ty for the parlor. I reminded sister that we would prob- 
ably room together. I was not quite .satisfied about get- 
ting one for myself. She insisted that in so large a house 



52 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

there would be found plenty of use for it. I have never 
quite gotten over the suspicion that she had in her busy,, 
practical forethought already appointed it for a special 
purpose, for no sooner had we the little parlor ready 
than she discovered that the one rug was " entirely too 
small," while the two were "just the thing." From that 
day to this my rug and that of the seminary have lain 
side by side in our pretty little parlor. If they could 
only speak, of how much they could remind us — of sad 
and happy scenes which we have forgotten — for they 
form almost the only remaining link between the begin- 
ning and the end of this story of a decade. They might 
tell us of many a noted visitor whose feet have pressed 
their velvety surface, for our home is now known far and 
wide, and many come to visit the Mission school, and go 
again, some to criticise and some to praise. 

February of 1885 found us domiciled in our comfort- 
able and sorely needed new quarters. The crowding in 
the old house made the new seem so roomy that some- 
times a little faithless wonder would come, Would it ever 
be possible for its halls to be filled with children? We 
were soon rebuked for our faithlessness, for in one short 
year our numbers caused the prayer to go forth which 
brought us Faith Hall. 

Occasionally, in these days, some one would recall the 
threatened lawsuit as a possibility ; but we set it aside as 
something that could never touch us. 

Nearly every day after we entered our new building 
pupils were received. The people had been put off so 
long a time with " wait until the new house is finished " 
that as soon as it was generally known as being open 
there was a rush of applicants, and we received a num- 
ber of children who remained with us until marriage, 
graduation, or death took them from us. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



53 



Among those whom death claimed was Florinda. 
How well I remember the tirst appearance of this 
bright, willful child! The father had brought the older 
sister, Bernarda, with the hope of getting her into the 




Florinda. 



school. Upon the second visit the little one had accom- 
panied her sister. She independently took possession of 
the one small rocker, unconscious of the beautiful pic- 



54 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

ture she made: a dimpled elbow resting on each arm of 
the chair, the chubby feet tapping the floor with every 
forward movement; the hair clustering in soft ringlets 
over the baby brow, and the eyes keeping watch of fa- 
ther and sister. When the father was ready to go she 
refused to leave, declaring her purpose to remain in the 
seminary because it "was pretty." My heart turned 
toward the winsome child, and I readily agreed to keep 
her. What a time we did have ! She was never ready, 
in those first years of her life with us, to do our bidding; 
her own little will was always the first thing, while ours 
was a secondary consideration. She was so bright and 
intelligent that in a short time she was far ahead of 
those of her age, and kept abreast with older children. 
Her knowledge of the Bible came to be a marvel to us 
who had so long had the light of its blessed teachings. 
We kept her with us until she entered the senior class. 
It was then we began to notice that she tired easily, and 
our quick ear caught the dry cough. It was with inde- 
scribable shrinking that we admitted that the dread 
disease, consumption, had her in its grasp. We kept her 
and nursed her awhile, but the doctor was not willing 
that we should endanger the lives of the other children, so 
we had to let her go; besides, father and mother felt 
sure that their love would nurse her back to health and 
strength. She had grown to be such a favorite with those 
who taught her that we deemed it a privilege to go to and 
from her humble home and minister to her wants. In 
less time than we had thought possible, another child 
was in heaven, another soul garnered to shine as a star 
in the crown to be cast at the Master's feet. As I tell 
of the life and death of this child, I am carried far into 
the years of my story, for she did not leave us until 
near the close of the tenth year of our Mission. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 55 

I go back to the close of the second year of the work, 
at which time the lawsuit, of which we had so long 
heard rumors, in reality came upon us. I was notified 
that the suit would be opened at a certain time. I 
wrote the facts to Mrs. Park, and asked her to be pres- 
ent. We were distressed over the affair, but we re- 
membered that we had the same resource as had Nehe- 
miah of old; therefore, "we made our prayer unto our 
God, and set a watch against them day and night, be- 
cause of them." 

Our lawyers in this case were Messrs. Foster and 
Dodd, of Laredo; friends of our work, though neither 
was of our Church. After every available proof had 
been gathered and placed in their hands, they discour- 
agingly said to us, " It is a doubtful case." Mrs. Park 
and I were not versed in the law concerning contractors 
and sub-contractors, and their claim upon a building; 
we simply did not see how it could be possible for us to 
be held responsible for the failure of the contractor. 
But what we thought or did not think made little dif- 
ference — the one terrible fact remained: we were engaged 
in a lawsuit, and worse still, would be called on to appear 
in the court room. The lawyers told us that much de- 
pended upon the clearness and exactness of our state- 
ments. I had no fear of any failure upon the part of Mrs. 
Park, for I knew her clear, unfailing memory would not 
let her falter. !No, I had no fear but that Mrs. Park 
would pass through the ordeal well, but I did fear most 
tremblingly for myself. I knew that I had still linger- 
ing touches of the old childish shrinking from making a 
positive statement. I remember that when quite a little 
thing my mother sent me to the postoffice, and on re- 
turning I said, " I believe he said there was no letter." 
After a few times my mother's amusement changed to 



56 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE. 

seriousness, as she tried to teach me that there was less 
truth in " I believe " than in " there was noue," when I 
had no letters to prove to the contrary. 

At last the dreaded day came. Answering the sharp 
ring of the telephone one cold morning, we were told 
to be present at the opening of court. After we had 
passed the ordeal, and were leaving the court room, our 
lawyers followed us, and I heard one say to the other, 
" Did you notice the ruling of the judge?" " Yes," was 
the answer, "I fear we have lost the case." As we were 
entering the carriage they came up to say that we would 
not know the result positively until the morrow, but 
they were fearful. I told Mrs. Park the remark I heard 
pass between them. I think her distress was even 
greater than mine, though I feared I was to blame for 
the direful result. We again " made our prayer unto 
our God," and set ourselves to patient waiting for the 
morning. Toward noon the telephone rang again, and 
to our great joy Captain Dodd informed us that the case 
had been decided in our favor. That morning he had 
asked the privilege of a second pleading, with the result 
which he took such pleasure in communicating. With 
grateful hearts we took up our daily work, and went 
forward with rejoicing. 



CHAPTEK III. 



1885-1886. 

NEW PROPERTY — BOYS — MONTEREY CONFERENCE. 

"Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore ivill 1 call 
upon him as long as I live" 

WE were so encouraged and strengthened by our 
victory in the lawsuit that we felt sure there was 
a year of prosperity and happiness before us. The school 
increased to such an ex- 
tent that we found it 
necessary to have more 
helpers. We had nearly 
seventy in family. 

Miss Gilbert came to 
us in the first days of the 
year, bringing with her 
her little adopted daugh- 
ter, Maria Farias. Our 
domestic burden was also 
lightened by the coming 
of Jane and Tom. This 
blessing was another that 
reached us through Dr. 
and Mrs. Atlee. 

Jane proved to be so capable that we had no care of 
kitchen, dining room, and laundry for nearly two years. 
Tom was equally efiicient in his line. He was of great 
service to sister in the grading and beautifying of the 
grounds, which during this year had been much en- 




Miss Gilbert. 



58 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

larged. The owner of the block west of us, becoming 
dissatisfied with Laredo, determined to move his family 
away, and wanted to sell out ; if we cared to buy, he 
would give us the refusal. There was a frame building 
of two rooms, galleries on three sides, a well, and wind- 
mill; he would take nine hundred dollars. We were 
contined to one block. Sixty children needed much 
room. Already our grounds seemed small. What must 
we do? No appropriation could be made by the Board, 
because their annual meeting would not be held until 
lona; after the inpatient owner would sell to some one 
else, and we would lose our opportunity. This was the 
most difficult question that had yet presented itself. It 
would never do to let anyone else have it, because we must 
have room to grow. A family council was called. Miss 
Toland said she had money which she would be willing 
to lend. Sister thought she could do the same. I felt 
sure that if they could do something I might also, and 
then the seminary might be able to put something into 
her own property. 

From the very beginning of the work we had looked 
upon the seminary as having a personality of its own, 
as being entirely distinct and quite different from all 
other personalities. Some of us had learned to think 
of it as a sacred thing, brought into existence by the 
Master's love and power; therefore its every interest 
was to be lovingly and jealously guarded. 

The result of our council was the purchase of the 
property deeded to our Board. 

As is usually the case, we had no sooner purchased 
than we did not know how we had done without it. 
The two rooms were immediately put in order as a 
home for Jane and Tom. Tom planned for us a fruit 
and vegetable garden, of which he made a success. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 59 

Our new possession not only enlarged our borders, 
but also increased our desires and multiplied our wants. 
Sister thought the time had come when we might have 
a cow. I remonstrated, setting forth the scarcity of 
seminary funds since the purchase of the new property. 
My sister was not convinced. She thought a cow could 
be bought very cheap ; anyway, she would try it, and 
buy one herself. So it was that " Colorado," as the 
children called our great, red Texas Durham, became a 
member of our family. Instead of being gentle and 
mild, as a missionary cow should be, she was so high- 
spirited that 1 have not words to express the state of her 
temper; but she proved such a wonderful milker, and 
was so handsome in appearance, that we overlooked her 
ill nature and kept her. 

Some time after she was bought, the children came 
running with great excitement to say that " Colorado " 
was out. We sent couriers in search of her, but all re- 
turned with like result — the cow could not be found. 
Sister was much distressed. I said: "We can trust 
about her, and then not worry." Several months after- 
wards a friend told us she had been seen on a ranch some 
miles away. After a few days " Colorado " stood again 
in our midst. She returned our joyful welcoming with 
a defiant shake of her head. After Tom left us my faith- 
ful Lucia learned to manage her quite easily. 

As 1 write this of Lucia many incidents of the child's 
helpfulness come to me. She was never too tired or too 
sleepy to help. I remember one night we heard a noise 
in the direction of Goldy's quarters. She and her two 
chicks were more prized than all of the other fowls. I 
called Lucia. She was ready in a moment, lantern in 
hand. We found Goldy all right, but the little chicks 
were not to be seen. We lifted the mother-hen ; but no, 



-60 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

they were not there. In some distress of mind we be- 
gan a search for them. After a moment Lucia's quick 
ear caught the sound of "peep! peep!" Eunning to 
Goldy, she lifted first one wing and then the other, and 
there, pressed close to the warm body of the mother, 
were the two little things, safe and content. "Just as 
God cares for us, my child!" I said. "He covers us 
with his feathers, and under his wings we do trust; and 
like this mother-hen, he himself must be moved before 
we can be touched." 

It was about this time that the great need of a boys' 
school began to be felt. From the opening of the work, 
a few small American boys had been in the day school. 
One among the number, if we remember correctly, the 
first one who entered, was Emil Atlee, who is now at 
college preparing for the ministry, trusting to spend his 
life in Mexico as a missionary to her oppressed people. 
Well do we remember the self-reliant, independent little 
Emil of seven, who on that October morning of 1883 
brought us his first offering of flowers. Ah! how the 
years move on rapid wing! Is it so that one day in 
September, 1893, I laid my hand on Emil's shoulder and 
bade him Godspeed in his chosen life work? 

There has been, and is still, a pronounced prejudice in 
Mexico against coeducation. We hesitated to undertake 
to overcome such old-settled conviction, but our great 
desire to see Christian education advance along all lines 
overcame our hesitancy, and resulted in having our doors 
thrown open to boys at the opening of school, August, 
1886. True, the number was limited; not more than ten 
boarders admitted. When we took them we felt that 
Ihey were the nucleus of our boarding school for boys. 

Having once thrown down the gauntlet, as it were, 
.and broken through old customs, we knew there was no 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 61 

retreat. We also knew that a boys' boarding school 
could not grow within the limits of a girls' school; that 
a special building must be provided, and, if possible, a 
special campus. 

Soon after Faith Hall was completed we began work 
on the laundry. The thought was given us to make it 
two stories instead of one, as had at first been contem- 
plated, and use the second story for the boys. The way 
opening so plainly for them, we knew they had come to 
stay. We found no trouble in grading them with the 
girls, thus making the school work one. In 1890 their 
full rights and privileges were formally recognized by an 
act of the legislature making the seminary a chartered 
institution for " boys and girls." 

In the beginning of the boys' work, discouraging as- 
well as amusing incidents often occurred. One day a 
Mexican gentleman brought his two daughters, intending 
to enter them; but on seeing a dozen or more boys on 
the campus, he gave orders to his coachman to return 
to the city at once. No time was allowed for explana- 
tion or remonstrance. Old prejudices were too strong. 

Among our first boy boarders were three little Mexi- 
cans, a pair of twins and a smaller brother. We had 
had many and varied experiences with girls, and had 
reached the conclusion that we were quite skilled in the 
management of homesick children, and that there could 
be no possible stage of the disease with which we were 
not familiar. Alas for human confidence! we were soon 
made to feel and deplore our ignorance. In the case of 
these, our first boys, the attack, instead of running its- 
usual course and exhausting itself within a few days r 
lasted for weeks, and finally culminated in the disappear- 
ance of the small brother. The alarm was given, " Luis 
cannot be found ! " Possible and impossible hiding places- 



62 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

were searched, but to no avail. Soon the telephone was 
calling friends of the child who lived in the city, friends of 
the school, the police force — telling that Luis was lost. 

Slowly the hours wore away, and still he was not 
found. Every jacal far and near was searched; every 
clamp of bushes parted with the hope that the child, 
grown weary, might have fallen asleep in so secure a hid- 
ing place. Groups of men and boys, with pole and line, 
could be seen along the banks of the Rio Grande, whose 
turbid waters never before seemed so dark and cold. 

The cries of the sister and twin brothers were piercing 
as they ran frantically from place to place, calling, "Luis! 
Luis! " We doubt not First Sergeant Luis Morton has 
forgotten that memorable day which we do not care to 
have repeated. We do not recognize our " runaway " in 
the manly sergeant, commanding his squad of cadets 
with all the grace and composure of a real army officer. 

The " twins," too, have forgotten their attack of home- 
sickness, as they stand at the head of our present gradu- 
ating class. All three are now members of the Church. 

In these first days of the boys' introduction into our 
peaceful home, where we had no special place for them, 
our patience and forbearance were often put to the test. 
Those were the days, too, when our new building was 
fast becoming as crowded as the old; already some of 
the old experiences were being repeated — cots put down 
at night in every available spot, removed in the morning 
to give walking and working room. 

To increase our sleeping capacity we had purchased 
two-story iron beds, with which every dormitory was now 
fully supplied. The children were delighted with the 
thought of getting to sleep " upstairs," and all wanted 
to do it, until several tumbled off, and we had to decide 
who should be the privileged ones. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



63 



Every helper in the home was pressed into extra 
service to care for the boys, our young invaders. Miss 
Beatty, now Mrs. Claggert, a dear young girl from Ken- 
tucky, was with us as music teacher. For more than a 




Rev. Robert MacDonell. 



year she rendered faithful, whole-hearted service. It 
fell to her lot as an "extra duty", to see the little fel- 
lows quietly to bed, prayers said, and lights out. Cots 



64 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

for the two least ones were made down in the music 
room. The " little innocents," how free from guile they 
appeared as with their soft lisp they sleepily bade her 
" good night! " Sometimes the lids closed over the pretty 
eyes, and in truth they slept; but oftener still, music, not 
made by skilled fingers, would call Miss Beatty from her 
room to find "one innocent" taking refuge under the 
piano, and the other hid away under the cot. 

During this year a girls' prayer meeting was instituted r 
the members of the Church conducting it, and all at- 
tending who desired. At this time we also conducted 
our sunrise prayer meeting, Avhich we k6pt up as long as 
strength allowed. We held this and all other religious 
services in the main schoolroom. I recall once an un- 
usual indifference among the children. As a rule they 
were always ready for evening service. The singing 
pleased them, and they responded quickly when asked 
for memory verses. On this special evening there was 
no interest manifested. I quietly said: " Children, you 
need have no chapel service, if you do not wish it; T can 
worship alone." I dismissed them with a simple "good 
night." The next evening I remained in my room. 
Several days passed without reference to services of any 
kind. Sunday morning came. The children had become 
restless. Finally they could bear it no longer. They 
came to me in groups of three and four, all with the 
same petition: "Please let us have Sunday school; we 
will bear our part." I remember Ysabel headed one of 
these groups, and as she turned to leave me she slyly 
said: " We can worship alone, you know; and we have. ,r 
I sometimes think I was more punished than the chil- 
dren were. For a long while afterwards there was a, 
bright, happy responsiveness in every service. 

It was in the evening hour that we learned to know 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 65 

each other better, and had our faith and love strength- 
ened. It was here that we learned to tell our needs. 

I remember well one of these evenings. It was in the 
fall of 1886. As I write, how that November evening 
comes back to me, laden with the perfume of holy mem- 
ories! I see again the dear friends and the precious 
children as they gathered one by one in the little chapel, 
after a day of fasting; I feel again the hush of the Mas- 
ter's presence; I hear the voice of supplication as we 
told of our need, of how crowded we were, of how our 
hearts were grieved to turn away those who wanted to 
enter our home; I hear again the expression of the 
simple faith of the children. Now, Faith Hall stands 
as a monument to that evening's prayer! 

With what strong confidence one of the little ones, 
looking up with pure, innocent eyes, said: "Shall we 
begin to-morrow?" I answered: "No; but we will 
prepare the ground." So the morning found us taking 
measurements and removing trees. We were so glad 
now of the new property, for had it not been for this we 
would have had no place whereon to build. 

It was a few weeks before this time that our hearts 
were cheered by a visit from Bishop and Mrs. Key. The 
bishop was with us several days, then left for an ap- 
pointment, leaving dear Mrs. Key with us. Upon his 
return, I accompanied them to Monterey, where our 
first Border Conference was to be held. Up to this time 
we had been a part of the West Texas, but now we were 
to have a purely Mexican Conference; and we felt that 
we were becoming more and more allied with the Mexi- 
can people, for which we had only thanks to render. 

Though I had been three years in the Mexican work, 
I had not visited Mexico except to cross the Rio Grande 
into Nuevo Laredo where I could spend a few hours from 
5 



66 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

the busy cares of our rapidly growing home. Therefore 
this trip was as much pleasure to me as to the other 
members of our party, consisting of Bishop and Mrs. 
Ke}^, Dr. Heidt, then Regent of Southwestern University, 
and several of our native ministers. 

Not many miles out from Laredo a dark-blue band 
was seen to appear against the horizon, which grew more 
and more distinct until Mexico's mountains stood out in 
full view. The day was the perfection of Mexico's per- 
fect days. There was enough cloud to throw changing 
light and shadow upon the scene. 

Our friend, brother Policarp Rodriguez, though a Mex- 
ican, had never before been so far into Mexico. His 
enthusiasm and delight knew no bounds. He kept 
changing from one side of the car to the other, saying: 
"When I am on this side, I think it grander, and when 
I go to that, I fear I have missed the most beautiful 
part.'' As he knew me quite well, and felt he must have 
some one to share his enjoyments, his " Quick, sister, or 
you will lose it!" followed by his gleeful laugh, kept me 
moving with him, much to the enjoyment of Mrs. Key, 
who said she did not know which gave her most pleasure, 
the mountains or brother Rodriguez's delight. Scripture 
quotations fell from many lips, the favorite seeming to 
be: "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so 
the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even 
forever." To me and to Mrs. Key, God's unchanging 
power and love were more fully realized in the words of 
the greatest of Old Testament prophets: "For the moun- 
tains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kind- 
ness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant 
of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy 
on thee." 

At the close of this lovely day wo reached the historic 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 67 

city of Monterey, where we found both Mexican and 
American friends waiting to receive us. I was placed 
in the care of Miss Ward, of the Presbyterian school, 
and was soon domiciled in one of the upper rooms of 
the building bought by Miss Rankin, whose untiring la- 
bors wrought so much for Missions in Mexico. I felt that 
I was on sacred ground, reaping in a foreign land the com- 
fort and security purchased by the self-sacrifice and un- 
wearying labor of a woman whose name will live in all 
evangelical Churches in Mexico as long as time shall last. 

This building, which was to be my home for the Con- 
ference week, was a quaint old Mexican house so situated 
that a full view of the mountains could be had from the 
upper galleries. One morning, while waiting for my 
desayuna, consisting of a cup of chocolate and piece of 
bread, I stepped out upon the gallery to take a view of 
my new surroundings I had expected to see nothing 
but the long, narrow street, and the low line of houses 
with their barred windows, and was not prepared for the 
burst of glory which met my gaze. 

I had been told that words were powerless to paint the 
beauty of sunrise mountain scenery, but that which I 
saw surely had never entered into my wildest imaginings 
of loveliness. Was that sheet of tinted light, which left 
no space between earth and sky, a thing of earth, or was 
it the glinting of angel wings? Once in my sleeping 
hours I had been carried by a dream into the city not 
made with hands. The thing which seemed to me most 
wonderful in that city of heavenly mansions was the soft 
radiance of the light which brought no shadow with it. 
Was the dream being repeated? I stood in motionless 
wonder, until I became conscious that the strong rays of 
the rising sun were lifting the thing' of beauty, and car- 
rying it upward out of the reach of earthly taint. 



68 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



Just then I heard Miss Ward's voice calling me to the 
desayuna. 

This morning of wonderful beauty was followed by an 




The " Elastic Baby.' 



ordinary day of coming and going; the meeting of friends,, 
old and new, some of whom have touched our lives through 
all of the intervening years. It was at this Conference 
that I -met brother Eobert MacDonell.. He was a personal 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 69 

friend of Bishop and Mrs. Key, who seemed to look upon 
him more as son than friend, familiarly calling him 
" Robert," and asking after " Lockie," as they called his 
wife. It was the first and only time I ever met our 
brother; gentle and lovely he was, as a woman, yet hav- 
ing a quiet power which placed him among the leading 
men of his Conference. 

At the close of the Conference, as we were parting, 
plans were laid for future meeting, " if the bishop should 
be returned to Mexico next year;" but the bishop did 
not come, and when two of the party met again — our 
lovely friend Mrs. Key, and the gentle, noble Robert 
MacDonell — it was to clasp hands in the eternal home, 
where partings are not known. 

I met, during this visit to Monterey, Miss Roberts, who 
afterwards became one of our very own missionaries. 

One of the pleasant little scenes of the Conference is 
still fresh in my mind. On Sunday morning Bishop 
Key preached for us. Mrs. Key and I were sitting to- 
gether on his right; little Florence Sutherland, the "elas- 
tic baby," as Bishop Parker was fond of calling her, crept 
in between us and laid her head of golden hair upon 
Mrs. Key's shoulder. The beautiful child and the equally 
beautiful woman formed a striking picture. While the 
bishop was preaching that morning, he rounded up a 
long, full, impressive sentence. Brother Sutherland, who 
was interpreter, took it up to render it into the musical 
language of the Mexicans. As he did so I saw sister 
Sutherland lean forward ; a shade of anxiety passed over 
her face, but it changed to a smile, and she gave a little 
impulsive clap of the hands as her husband finished the 
sentence to her satisfaction. 

Not only at the preaching of this sermon, but during 
xthe entire session of the Conference, men, women, and 



70 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



children crowded the doors and windows. I donbt not 
our ways and customs were as strange to them as theirs 
to us. The Conference was held in brother Bryee's home 
on the corner of the Plaza de Llaves. Oar Mexican 




Lugarda. 

brethren thought it quite a coincidence that their bishop 
and their plaza should bear the same name. 

Some time before the date of the Conference we had 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 71 

received a little Mexican girl, Lugarda, from brother 
Robertson, whose wife had taught her during their resi- 
dence in Monterey, soon after their marriage. As soon 
as Lugarda's parents knew of my presence in Monterey 
they came to see me — father, mother, brother, sister, all 
must see and shake hands with me. The father insist- 
ed upon my receiving a large basket of fresh oranges. 
This delicious fruit reaches its perfection and floods the 
market in the months of October and November. At 
that time they do not seem to weary sight or taste, but 
are an added enjoyment to the many pleasures of a trip 
to Monterey. I, of course, accepted the oranges, prom- 
ising to share them with Lugarda; but no! they would 
have a costal at the station, which I would please do 
them the favor to carry over to their daughter. They 
have been my friends from that day. Lugarda remained 
with me until she graduated, and soon after she married 
one of our native preachers, Andres Osouna. I think 
the little " Nanita " is the prettiest of all my grand 
children, though it may be because she bears my name. 

As we returned to Laredo, brother Rodriguez was 
somewhat disappointed that the mountains did not ap- 
pear so lovely or excite the same enthusiasm. I com- 
forted him by saying we were going down, not up, and 
we could not expect to reverse the order of things, as 
the upward trend of life was far more beautiful than the 
downward. " Yes," he said, " and if we can keep the 
eye fixed upward we will find it beautiful to the end 01 
life's journey." I never saw anyone with a more lovely, 
simple, childlike faith than this Mexican friend; he came, 
as he expressed it, " from the very depths of the vilest 
into the glorious light of the liberty of a child of Grod." 

Among our children at the time of Mrs. Key's visit 
was Dolores, a young girl of fourteen, to whom she be- 



72 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



came very much attached. Perhaps those who read 
this story will think we had only beautiful children. In 
a certain sense they were; but, in truth, all who saw 




" Nanita. 



this child spoke of her rare beauty. She had a com- 
plexion as purely white as if she were of Saxon instead 
of Aztec origin; hair, purplish black; eyes — I think no 
one could tell — they were simply liquid wells of love. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 73 

Her loveliness of character equaled her grace of person. 
Was it any wonder that we loved her? and was it a marvel 
that Mrs. Key's pure nature was attracted by the gentle 
spirit of the child? One day she asked her what she 
intended doing with her education. Dolores replied: 
" Gro back to my people and help them." 

Two years passed, and we were called upon to yield 
this rare flower to Him who formed it. As a rule, 
when death enters a home he brings a cold chill of 
horror with him, but in this instance an indescriba- 
ble peace settled upon the household. Our tears fell 
upon the lifeless clay from which the spirit had fled. 
Tender hands arrayed her in pure white and carried her 
to Faith Hall, where brother Oxley, mid our tears, paid 
a tribute of love to her memory. 

As the year drew to its close we felt that it had been 
a prosperous one. Prosperous years are not always easy 
ones, and it was so in this case; yet we felt that the 
Master's hand had been over us in blessing. 

Near the beginning of this year I had taken our little 
Eloisa Eivera, daughter of a Mexican preacher, with me 
to visit one of our absent children who had not been 
well for some time, and who wanted much to see her lit- 
tle playmate. While there a neighbor's child ran in to 
play. After a few moments I heard the little stranger 
cough in such a manner that aroused my fears. Upon 
inquiry I found that she was supposed to have whooping 
cough. I called Eloisa, and shortened our visit; but it 
was too late. In those few moments our little one had 
contracted the disease. The result was a long siege of 
nursing and care, in the midst of which I had to try 
what the children had, and did not find it a comfortable 
thing. I, with them, was glad when the last trace of 
rfche disease had disappeared. 



74 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE. 

Our little ELoisa had many quaint, odd ways that en- 
deared her to us. She had grown quite fond of me, 
from my having to nurse her through a tedious illness. 
For many weeks after the fever left her she was still 
dull and sleepy; and, not being content away from me, 
her cot, or folded comfort, was always near my desk, 
where she would lie for hours, either sleeping or quietly 
watching me at my work. She came to look upon me 
as almost exclusively her own, and would resent any 
manifestation of affection toward me on the part of 
others, though she was always chary of her own atten- 
tions. Some time after her recovery Lizzie came into 
the room where I was resting, and familiarly sat down 
on the arm of my chair, at the same time telling me 
some of the tribulations of the day. Neither of us no- 
ticed that Eloisa had entered the room, until she began 
to sob violently. I gently pushed Lizzie aside, and, 
reaching out my hand to the weeping child, 1 said: 
"Why, Eloisa, what is it? Come here and tell me." 
She would not move, only continued to sob. Lizzie 
said to her, in her persuasive way: "Tell Lizzie Belle; 
won't you, Eloisa? " But Eloisa broke away from her, 
and, rushing^ from the room, cried: "J am so sorry for 
me ! " We often laughingly repeat her words when we 
find ourselves called upon to bear some light but sud- 
den disappointment. After a few years the father was 
transferred to the Northwest Mexican Conference, and 
when he went to his distant home he took Eloisa with 
him. I think it was from Mazatlan that he wrote me 
of her death, telling of her last words of love and affec- 
tion for me and the dear old home. If I am to tell this 
story of our lives, I will have to tell of the children 
who have passed on before and of those who linger still. 



CHAPTEE IV. 

1886-87. 

HOME-GOING. 

" The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." 

THE increase of the school made it necessary for us 
to look toward enlargement. We had quite out- 
grown the new house, though we had occupied it less 
than two years. 

As I have said, our prayer had gone forth for more 
room. We, at first, thought it would be well to finish 
the present building according to original plans ; but 
after experiencing the noise of school work, including 
the constant use of the piano, with no respite, from 
6 a.m. until 9 p.m., we saw we must have the school in 
another building, entirely separate from the home. We 
felt so sure the Board would give sufficient appropria- 
tion to meet all of our necessities, real and imaginary, 
that we went forward with plans and estimates as if the 
money were already in hand. We could hope for noth- 
ing until after the annual meeting, which was to be in 
the early summer. It seemed a long while to wait, in 
our crowded condition. None but a missionary, who 
stands in the midst of the people for whom she is giving 
her life, may comprehend the anguish of spirit when 
compelled to turn away from their pleading looks and 
words and leave them in their helpless condition. 

The thought had been growing with us from the be- 
ginning of the work that it must extend its borders; 
not simply to enlarge at Laredo, but to go forward into 
Mexico. We felt more and more convinced as time 



76 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

went by that our work on the border, it mattered not 
how often it might extend its boundary lines, could no 
more meet the demand of this people than one drop of 
water could quench the thirst of famishing millions. 
We must do our part to honor and magnify the Master's 
cause in Mexico. How better could we do it than by 
building Christian schools in every city of the republic, 
and Christian homes upon every plain, until the glad 
song of praise, echoing and reechoing from mountain 
side, should fill all the land with gladness? This was in 
the future, still we might live to see, in some measure, 
the fruition of our hopes. Our dreams of what should 
be did not make us unmindful of our duty to the pres- 
ent moment. Something must be done to make us more 
comfortable. The dining room was enlarged by includ- 
ing under one roof and throwing into one room the old 
dining room, kitchen, pantry, servant's room, and gal- 
lery. A new pantry and kitchen were built adjoining; 
in all, forming a building sixty-five feet in length and 
twenty-five in width. We were a large family now, 
numbering eighty, and increasing to nearly one hundred 
before the year closed. 

The two rooms, on our new block of land, which had 
been fitted up for the brother and sister, were thrown 
into one, and furnished attractively, for the primary 
department. Here Miss Bessie Headen presided, help- 
ing us also in many ways outside the school work. The 
improvements were made at the expense of the seminary; 
she had begun to have a contingent fund of her own 
formed from the income of the school. With her in- 
creased riches she took on quite an air of comfort and 
independence, and we could be heard saying quite freely: 
u The seminary is able to do this or that." 

On my return from Monterey I brought a little 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



77 



daughter of one of our native preachers, Anastacia San 
Miguel. I saw her first at the crowded station. She 
was such a chubby little thing! I felt great responsi- 




Candelaria. 



bility when the father laid the child's hand in mine and 
said: " You are her mother." 

After the prejudice of those early days was broken, 
I never ceased to wonder at the simplicity and perfect 



78 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

confidence of this people in handing over their children 
to our care. 

I took the dimpled hand in mine and looked down at 
the scarce more than baby, whose eyes looked up so 
trustingly, and my heart went out in prayer for strength 
and wisdom to guide her aright. She proved to be of a 
quiet, gentle temperament, but slow to learn. After 
she had been with us several years, the father came 
again, bringing a younger sister, Ester, remarkably 
bright and intelligent. The two have been with us all 
these years, the one by hard study keeping just one 
grade ahead of the other. Ester, through Mrs. Park's 
influence, was given to be clothed to one of the juvenile 
societies of Galveston. 

We often look at this little thing, scarcely ten years 
old, and think how sheltered and blessed her life so far, 
and of how lavish nature has been to her of her choicest 
gifts. Pretty and graceful in person, lovable disposition, 
and a mind which we feel sure will not be discouraged by 
the most intricate sciences. Naturally, our hopes cluster 
around her; but we have been called, so often, to give 
up the fairest of the flowers in our midst that we would 
fain never set our hearts again upon anything earthly. 

It was toward the opening of this year that, one day, 
I was summoned to the parlor to meet Mexican visitors. 
Upon inquiry, I learned that the mother and sons had 
brought the daughter to enter school. They all looked 
tired and travel-stained. They had come from Allende, 
several hundred miles distant from Laredo ; had traveled 
all the way in a covered wagon. They had braved sand 
and wind, sun and scarcity of water, and now stood in 
patient waiting at the entrance of our crowded home to 
see what I would do, or what hope I could give them. 

I looked from the careworn face of the mother to the 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 79 

strong, gentle face of the daughter, and said: "Your 
name, please? " In musical tones came the reply: " Can- 
delaria, your servant." I said: " We are very crowded, 
but surely a place may be found for a girl who has en- 
dured so much to seek a home among us." How I 
learned to love that girl, so strong, so brave, so true! I 
soon discovered that she was a Christian of the purest 
type. There had been a Bible for many years in her 
home, but none of her family read it; either they could 
not or were not permitted to do so. 

This young girl had the opportunity of learning to 
read, and of hearing a sermon from a passing preacher. 
She remembered the old unused book, and upon return- 
ing sought the text of the man of God. Not only that, 
but the book became her constant companion, and she 
drank " long and freely " from the " wells of salvation." 

It was soon noised abroad that Candelaria had dared 
to think differently from her fathers, who for many 
generations had walked in the one way, and she had 
.also dared to mark out a new way for herself, and, worse 
still, had determined to walk in it for conscience' sake. 
What cared she for the indignities that were heaped 
upon her, or for the menial labor that she was forced to 
perform ? 

As the days went on, and the child grew in the knowl- 
edge and wisdom of things spiritual, and thereby the 
fruits of the Spirit were manifested in her life, was 
it strange that father, mother, brother, and sister came 
to recognize the wonderful power of the love of Christ 
in the heart? 

Candelaria will never know, this side of the heavenly 
gate, how my own faith and love have been strength- 
ened by her childlike, simple trust. I came to her people 
a missionary. She came to me as a child of peace. In 



80 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



the Sunday-school lesson I have never known her to 
fail to grasp the strong, central thought of the lesson, 
giving its spiritual signification. She learned to be use- 
ful to me in many ways. As our work advanced, the 




Lupe Bravo. 

number of daily visitors increased to such an extent 
that much of my time was spent in conducting them 
through the home and school. I gradually fell into the 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 81 

habit of calling on Candelaria to entertain and take 
care of a certain class of visitors, and, finally, to negoti- 
ate with parties desiring to enter their children. Some- 
times she would come to me, with face all aglow, to tell 
of some child whose mother was a widow, too poor to 
help any, but then the child was so lovely, looked so 
bright; and I would often interrupt her with, "Cande- 
laria, you know how crowded we are, and we must use 
judgment, and not overdo matters." " Yes," she would 
answer, " but you know we are going to have more 
room; for the present we may crowd a little more in the 
dining room and in the dormitory; besides, if we do not 
take her now, she may be lost to us." More than once I 
have yielded to her earnest pleadings; such children so 
received soon came to be considered Candelaria's espe- 
cial property. Sometimes I would see a new face on the 
grounds or in the chapel; calling Candelaria to me, I 
would ask, " Do you know anything about that child? " 
She would make answer, "You were so busy; I knew 
you would take her if you could see her," etc. Then, 
again the answer would be, " I have taken her on trial." 
Again the whole thing would be reversed; meeting her 
after a crowd of visitors had left, I would say, having 
expected to see some new child: " Why, Candelaria, what 
have you done with your children? " " Oh, they wanted 
too much for nothing, and I told them that there was no 
room for them." 

Great was her sorrow, and mine, when the mother 
came to carry her home. " It is impossible for me to do 
without her," I said, with tears in my voice. " I, too, 
need her," the mother replied. " Surely you will bring 
her to me again when the vacation closes," I said coax- 
ingly. " When I am gone," said the mother, " you may 
have her again." 
6 



82 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

Two years have passed; my heart still hungers for 
Candelaria. She has been in the public school work 
since she left me; the main support of the family. 

Another of this year's blessings was the coming of 
Lupe Bravo. Lupe never learned well, but has been so 
faithful to every interest of the seminary. Since Can- 
delaria left, Lupe has taken up some of the duties that 
formerly were hers. Her tenderness and gentleness in 
the care of the sick are beyond the power of words to 
express. We came to her people as missionaries; she 
came to us as a child of love. 

Early in this year, Miss Dillard, now Mrs. Winston, of 
Texas, came to our assistance. For six years she was a 
member of our family, helping in and out of school as 
one of us. Soon after her coming, it became apparent 
to all that the heavy cares of so large a family had worn 
upon me, until rest and change were imperative. As 
soon as possible, after the close of school in May, sister 
and I, obeying the order of our Board, began prepara- 
tions for a home trip. Up to that time we had not 
thought it possible to leave; in fact, we had not wanted 
to. We had been so engrossed in our mission work, 
our hands and hearts and lives so full, that all other 
thoughts seemed crowded out ; but now that the way was 
opening for us to go, we were in a measure glad. 

Miss Toland knew the work as well as I; was as much 
a part of it. It was an easy matter to place the reins of 
government in her competent hands. With Miss Grilbert 
and Miss Dillard as ready assistants, we knew there 
would be no break. 

As this is a story of Missions, I would not need to 
touch upon that home-going were it not for a disappoint- 
ment that became, as some one has quaintly said, " God's 
appointment." How dearly I should love to tell of all 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 83 

the home friends who welcomed us so gladly, many of 
whom have since made their journey to the eternal city. 

Our first resting place was in St. Louis, in the elegant 
home of Mr. Frank Ely, where we clasped hands again 
with our friend Lula Daniel, whose words of love and 
cheer have brightened the years of our separation. 

It is my earnest conviction that a missionary never 
fully appreciates the honor conferred upon her, by re- 
ceiving and obeying the call to mission work, until she 
has made her first home trip. The attention, the love, 
the tenderness bestowed upon her, are worth the first 
home-going, were there no higher and nobler considera- 
tions. 

A few days' rest, and we were again on our journey. 
Mrs. Bishop Wilson met us at the station at Nashville, 
and we were soon made comfortable in the beautiful 
country home of our Foreign Secretary. Our hearts were 
cheered t>y Mr. McGravock's deep interest in Mexican Mis- 
sions; and Mrs. Owen, Mrs. McGavock's aged mother, 
never grew weary of the story of the doings and sayings 
of Mexican children. How well I remember her parting 
words when we were last at home: " I love Mexico, and 
I would rather see it than all the other places put to- 
gether." A few short months after our return, the news 
came that she had gone to meet the loveliest of our Mex- 
ican children in a land fairer than " beautiful Mexico." 

Another day or two and we were with our very own 
in Louisville, Ky., in the home of Mrs. D. ~N. Forbes, where 
early friends gathered around us and ministered to our 
comfort. We fain would have tarried among these loved 
ones, but according to instructions requiring missionaries 
to be present at the first annual meeting after their re- 
turn from the foreign field, I hurried on to Catlettsburg. 

My sister and I parted at Lexington, where I met per- 



84 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



sonal friends who were going as visitors and members to 
this, to me, memorable meeting. 

My report of the work, estimates for the support of the 
same, and plans for the much-needed enlargement, had 




Miss Dillard. 



been in the hands of the Secretary for some time. I was 
not strong, and my long journey made rest necessary, 
for which no better place could have been found than 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 85 

the hospitable home of Mrs. Hampton. Miss Mason, the 
daughter, was particularly attentive and kind. My stay 
-with them will ever form one of the pleasant pages in 
memory's book, and I have often asked God's blessing 
upon the family for their unceasing kindness to the 
weary missionary. 

As soon as I was sufficiently rested, I was called be- 
fore the committee, and there, for the first time, learned 
that in all probability it would be impossible for the 
Board to grant the appropriation needed for enlarge- 
ment. A disappointment truly, but somehow I did not 
take in the full extent of the meaning. "We fear we 
cannot give you what you ask." I knew that we were 
absolutely bound to have more room. Had we not said 
in our report that we were crowded to our utmost capac- 
ity? Besides this, was there not that November even- 
ing of prayer, as a rainbow of hope in our sky of trust, 
as sure as that of nature as a sign of never-failing seed- 
time and harvest? This spoke assurance to my soul. 

When finally told that it had been considered impossi- 
ble to grant our petition, I said: " We have asked God for 
it; we will surely get it." How, I did not know. Some- 
times I thought it might be that some generous giver 
would be moved to large-heartedness, and the entire sum, 
seven thousand dollars, be given and forwarded at once, 
and the work begun without delay. That did not prove 
" God's appointment." Many hearts, instead of one, were 
to have a part in that which our children were to call 
"The house we prayed for," and which Mrs. McGavock 
was to christen "Faith Hall." 

Anniversary night I was asked to present the Mexican 
work. I do not remember that I said much of our per- 
sonal need at Laredo, but of the need of Christian schools 
in the republic of Mexico, surely destined by her natural 



86 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

resources to find a place among the great nations of the 
earth. The lapse of years has blotted from my memory 
the words of the evening, but a scene which followed re- 
mains indelibly stamped upon my heart. There had 
been sent, as a gift to the Board, a small box of flowers 
from a mission field. The box now stood empty upon the 
Secretary's table. The President, the venerable and be- 
loved Mrs. Hayes, was in the act of calling for the usual 
collection, when my precious friend, Mrs. Lizzie Swigert, 
stepped forward, with her indescribable grace, and say- 
ing a few low words to Mrs. Hayes, who seemed to read- 
ily assent, she lifted the empty box from the table, and 
turning to the audience spoke of the perfume of the 
flowers which still lingered within it; spoke of the ful- 
fillment of the promise which the delicate odor of the 
flowers from mission ground had verified — "The desert 
shall blossom as the rose; " and from this to how the per- 
fume of willing-hearted giving rose in sweet incense to 
the throne of the Giver of all good. Her words fell with 
electric thrill upon the hearts of her hearers, and before 
she was scarcely done speaking they were pressing for- 
ward with their offerings. I was told that the gifts of 
the evening were to be appropriated to the building at 
Laredo. With my usual obtuseness, I did not take in 
the meaning of the words. I think I must have had in 
my mind that imaginary munificent giver who was to 
make his gift a big round sum, which would leave no 
need of any other giving. 

I was to go with my friends, Mrs. Swigert and Mrs. 
Trueheart, to a small railroad station — Campbellsburg, 
I think, was the place — where a missionary meeting was 
to be held, a district meeting, perhaps; and from there 
we were to attend the annual meeting of the Kentucky 
Conference Society, which was to be held in Carrollton, 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 87 

a few days later. This meeting at Campbellsburg was 
the one which was to make a lasting impression on me, 
for it was in that little place, that little church, that I 
was to receive the " widow's mite," which was to open 
my eyes, revealing to me the manner in which Faith 
Hall was to be built. I had spoken both morning and 
afternoon, not many words, just enough to let all know 
that I was a missionary and Mexico a mission field. At 
the close of the meeting in the afternoon, my friend, 
brother Hughes, came to my side, and handing me a 
small piece of money, said : " One who is very poor de- 
sires you to use this in your mission work." Reach- 
ing it back to him, I said : " I do not receive contribu- 
tions; this belongs to your auxiliary." He assured me 
it was mine. As I walked by the side of Mrs. True- 
heart to the home of brother and sister Hughes, where 
we were to pass the night, I reached out to her the hand 
which still held the little piece of silver, and said: "Mrs. 
Trueheart, will you take this as a missionary offering 
from the meeting this afternoon?" "No," she said, "it 
is not mine, it was expressly given to you." I looked 
at the coin, as it lay there in my palm, seemingly so 
small, so insignificant, but possessing a power of which 
until that moment I had not dreamed. Suddenly to 
my eye it was illuminated with a heavenly light. My 
hand closed over it as a precious thing, and turning to 
Mrs. Trueheart again, I said: "This is the first visible 
offering of the many which are to be given toward the 
building at Laredo." So it proved. A few days after, 
at the meeting at Carrollton, friends new and old gave 
freely from their abundance; yea, from out their poverty 
also. My aged friends, uncle and auntie Abbott, as I 
was wont familiarly to call them, gave as unto a child, 
their very own. Had I with me, as I write this story, 



88 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

the little book containing the names of contributors to 
Faith Hall, I should be tempted to mention them all, 
but the names of such givers need no record in a book 
of earth's perishing material; for are not such deeds 
chronicled by angel hands? 

After several months of complete rest, I was called by 
friends of our Mission to attend the meetings of aux- 
iliaries and Conference societies; everywhere the gifts 
came in. I remember there was a meeting in Coving- 
ton, where I saw for the last time my precious friend, 
Lizzie Swigert. I had scarcely returned to my Mission 
when, as a quick-winged messenger, the sudden call 
came and she was no more. We spent together several 
delightful days in the home of Mrs. Frances and Miss 
Maria Gibson, her sister. The rare conversational pow- 
ers of Mrs. Swigert were never more apparent than in 
those few days when, under the genial influence of Mrs. 
Frances's winning hospitality and Miss Gibson's bright 
vivacity, she seemed to be lifted into a realm of beauty 
and power where none could reach her. Those of us to 
whom she was so dear thought her more beautiful and 
loved her more than ever before. 

I was full of regret that I could not meet with our 
Newport friends in a real missionary meeting of their 
own, though I was permitted to see some of them and 
speak with them face to face at the Covington meet- 
ing. When the circle of our loved ones begins to break, 
how quickly they seem to go! Among those who were 
with us then, in that time that seems but yesterday, 
and who go in and out among us no more, was Miss 
Mary Allen. Though I may scarcely call her a personal 
friend, as we met rarely, yet there were gifts and 
acknowledgments which brought us into real contact of 
love and interest. It was principally through her efforts 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



89 



that many names of Newport friends rest beside me 
night after night in my Laredo home. 

A week after the Covington meeting, we were busy 
with our preparations for return to our Mission. The 







' ■ ! 




; 








t"* -1 **-^ 




<^u&j 


* 


^feSF 




:Ml 




aP^V^ 




tmt 





Miss Holderby. 

intervening days were spent with our relative, Mrs. 
H. D. Frisbie, at her home in Cynthiana, the pictur- 
esque little city where were passed most of the days of 



90 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

our childhood, and where rests in Battle Grove, the 
" silent city of the dead," the body of our sainted 
mother. Memories hallowed and sweet were lingering 
around us, while we quietly and speedily made ready 
for the southward trip to our adopted home on the 
border of beautiful Mexico. 

Miss Mason and Miss Holderby, two young ladies 
who had become interested in Mexican missions during 
our stay in their home at Catlettsburg, promised to give 
a year's service to the work at Laredo. The school had 
opened, and Miss Toland had written of the great need 
of helpers; so it was arranged that my sister, in com- 
pany with those dear girls, was to go without further 
delay, the time being now the early days of October. 
I would remain two weeks longer to meet an engage- 
ment with the Baltimore Conference Society. So we 
parted, they going south and I speeding eastward. 

A day or two at Lexington, in the home of my cousin, 
Mary Anderson, brought about a little missionary meet- 
ing in High Street Church, at that time under the pas- 
torate of Bev. J. B. Deering. Interest in the cause was 
awakened and names were added to the list of those 
who were building Faith Hall. Their number was con- 
tinually increasing. Friends at Cynthiana contributed. 
Friends at Frankfort, Louisville, Newport, Lagrange, 
Paris, Millersburg, and other cities of my native State,. 
had heard the story of the building; they, too, must 
help in so sacred a work. 

Near midnight the train which had borne me so 
quickly and safely on my journey pulled in at the Bal- 
timore station. I had given myself little anxiety as 
to how 1 would be taken care of in a strange city at 
that hour of the night. I had thought probably Miss 
Baker would send a friend or messenger to care for me 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 91 

at a hotel, where she would meet me in the morning. I 
was, therefore, not prepared for the greeting which 
awaited me. Standing off a little distance from the 
train, side by side, in the fall blaze of the electric light, 
were Mrs. Hayes and Miss Melissa Baker — childhood 
and lifelong friends. From that moment to this I have 
never been able to separate them ; they are indissolubly 
linked in my memory and affection. As they hastened 
to meet me they seemed so frail that I said, as I gave a 
hand to each: "Why did you do this? A messenger to 
carry me to a hotel would have answered." I remem- 
ber the look of surprise as they turned to me and said: 
" You have a warmer place in our hearts than that." I 
rested in the perfect sense of rest in the grand old home 
of Miss Baker, who honored her missionary by claiming 
her as guest and friend. 

The Conference at Baltimore impressed itself upon 
me by the loveliness of the spirit manifested among its 
members, and the " abundance of their liberality." At 
the same time of our missionary meeting there was one 
in progress in our sister Church. It was there I met 
Miss Hart, who at that time had charge of the Balti- 
more branch of the Woman's Missionary Society of the 
M. E. Church. It was in Baltimore that 1 again had the 
pleasure of meeting brother Young, who had given us 
the sermon before mentioned. Would that my memory 
were better, that I might tell of others who gathered 
around me. An evening with Mrs. Bond and one with 
Mrs. Hayes, and the time of this blessed social inter- 
course was gone. Miss Melissa and a friend, whose 
name I cannot recall, would go with me to Washington, 
as I had never visited the capital of our republic. They 
were determined that I should have a full day of recre- 
ation and real pleasure; and so it was. As I write of 



92 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE. 

the day I live it over again, and realize that the memory 
of lovely things never dies. The night closed in upon 
us, and these friends bade me G-odspeed upon my home- 
ward journey. 

I rested on the following Sabbath with Mrs. Avis, in 
St. Louis; talked with the children of St. John's Church, 
and Monday night I was really homeward bound. 

I had not planned it so, but I reached Laredo on the 
20th of October. How different the present coming 
from the first! Then all was so strange and new; now 
I would see familiar faces and hear loved voices. There 
were Miss Toland and sister waiting to greet me the 
moment I stepped from the train. As we drove up to 
the home it was flooded with light shining from every 
window. Helpers and children rushed forward with 
endearing words of welcome, and I was in very truth 
-at home. 



CHAPTEE V. 

1887-1888. 

FAITH HALL — SALTILLO. 

" Whatsoever ye shall ash in my name, that will I do" 

BEFOKE leaving Kentucky I had written Mrs. Park,, 
asking her to go on to Laredo and begin to pur- 
chase material for the new building. I found her there, 
already at work. We eagerly began getting up plans 
and estimates. We wanted a large building which 
would answer all school purposes for some years to 
come. We did not care for ornament, but we did want 
it strong and substantial. We felt that every cent 
which would be used in its construction would be sacred, 
therefore how carefully we watched the outlay! 

Mrs. Park's Texas Juveniles had become interested in 
giving so many bricks, so in laying them she would 
have none but the best. Soon after my return to the 
Mission I accepted an urgent invitation to visit Houston r 
Tex., while the Texas Conference was in session. The 
friends of Missions had heard something of this wonder- 
ful building which we had begun, and they too wanted 
to have a part in it. My home for the time was with 
Mrs. Ayers. Her family became deeply interested in 
the work. I remember the least one, a little girl, said 
she wanted to know where her bricks would be; they 
must be near enough the ground for her to see, for she 
felt sure she would go to Laredo some time to see that 
house. Women and children, and men, too, not only in 
Houston, but in many other Texas cities — San Antonio, 



94 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

Austin, San Marcos, Galveston, Seguin, Gonzales — heard 
the story told of "the house for which Mexican children 
had prayed," and they too must have a part in answer- 
ing the prayer. G-ifts, large and small, from almost every 
State where Southern Methodism holds sway, found their 
way to our hands. None were so large but that others 
were needed, and I think I may safely say that thou- 
sands of hearts were touched and quickened, coming into 
closer sympathy with the Master's cause by the building 
of this plain brick structure. 

As soon as the ground was broken and the foundation 
really begun, the joy of the children who had taken 
part in that November prayer meeting knew no bounds. 
"Look!" they cried one to another, "the house we 
prayed for is begun." We eagerly watched it grow into 
its broad proportions until it stood completed, in our 
eyes a u thing of beauty." There it stands to-day, a 
blessed reality, a tangible evidence of direct answer to 
the simple prayer of faith. Amidst the deepest discour- 
agement one look at Faith Hall brings rest and assur- 
ance. How firm, how substantial it appears! Do we 
not know that the Hand which planted it will establish 
the work done within its walls? As soon as finished it 
must be scrupulously cleaned, and then who so capable 
as Miss Toland to be its care-taker? Eloisa Palacios 
asked the privilege of helping her in the care of the 
large upper room, which was soon to be dedicated to the 
service of the Lord. The eventful day came, April 29, 
1888. Rev. A. H. Sutherland preached the dedicatory 
sermon, after which missionaries, children, teachers, and 
friends drew near the altar, and, with bowed head and 
solemn hush, partook of the Lord's Supper. The Com- 
forter did not forget us on that day. How still the 
children were, gathered for the first time in the house 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



95 



u we prayed for! " How glad and joyous rang out the 
clear young voices in song of praise and thanksgiving! 
A blessing then, a blessing still, is our house of prayer. 




Irena. 



It is a large, two-story building, with nine rooms. 
How quickly we filled it! The work had grown until 
from necessity it had become a graded school of four 
departments, comprising eleven grades. There were in 



96 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

all one hundred and twenty-five pupils. The little frame- 
building, which served so nicely the year before for pri- 
mary work, was needed for other purposes, and Faith 
Hall was pressed to meet the demands made upon it. 

Miss Kent, our new music teacher, said she must have 
a " concert." It was to be quite different from that 
chronicled in our first year. We did not shrink from 
having this called a concert. Being the first of anjr 
public note, the fair young teacher felt her reputation 
was at stake. She put forth every effort to make it a 
chaste, quiet affair. So well did she succeed that five 
years afterwards some one spoke of " Miss Kent's beau- 
tiful concert." It had one feature that has never be- 
longed to any before or since, with us. It was a pay 
concert, and the children engaged in it were quite proud 
of the organ which they presented to the Sunday school 
from its proceeds. 

Writing of our young helper, who was so capable and 
full of energy, brings to mind an incident in the life of 
a little Mexican girl who was very fond of her. She 
requested that Irena should go with her to the dentist. 
I readily consented. She was to take also two of the 
small boys who were anxious for an outing. Upon their 
return the children expressed themselves as having had 
a pleasant time. A day or two passed, and a child, one 
who had not gone with this party of three, casually re- 
marked: " Irena has such pretty teeth ! She can nearly 
drop them out of her mouth and draw them back 
again." A sudden suspicion flashed upon me that the 
"pretty teeth " had not come in a lawful way. Sending 
for Irena, I questioned her as to how, when, and where 
she had gotten them. Without hesitation, she replied: 
" I took them." Assuming as serious an air as possible, 
I said: "Why, my child, what made you do that? Do- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 79 

you not know it is wrong to take a thing not youi 
own?" She replied with perfect serenity: "I took 'em 
to play." Trying to impress the gravity of the situa- 
tion upon her, I said : " I shall call Dr. Atlee, and you 
will have to return the teeth. I will leave it to him to 
say what shall be the nature of your punishment." I 
sent a messenger for the doctor. When I told him of 
the circumstance, he was convulsed with laughter, and I 
felt sure that I would receive no help from him. I begged 
him to be serious enough, at least, to accept the teeth, 
and give a few words of counsel and warning. Prom- 
ising to do his best, I called Irena, who came in lightly 
and gracefully without embarrassment, and reaching 
out the teeth to the doctor, began her little speech of 
asking pardon, which I had told her she must make. 
She had said but a few words, when her quick eye saw 
the doctor was shaking with suppressed laughter. She 
gave a glance at me, and smiling, left the room. I lost 
my case. 

It was not until this year that there seemed a prob- 
ability of the fulfillment of my desire to have work 
beyond the Eio Grande. The Board looked favorably 
upon the proposition to take under its protection the 
day school which had been opened in Saltillo by Mrs. 
Corbin. It was at this time being taught by Miss JRob- 
erts, who was receiving her salary from the Rosebuds 
of Virginia. When I saw her in Monterey, in the fall 
of 1886, we had talked over the possibility and proba- 
bility of her work being adopted. By letter and by 
word of mouth, the Board had been convinced of the 
promising outlook, and had therefore determined to 
enter that door. At the meeting at Catlettsburg a 
small appropriation had been made toward that end. 
Early in the fall of 1887 I was ordered to Saltillo to see 
7 



98 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



the condition of the school and to determine whether or 
not the property was suitable for enlarged work. I 
found Miss Roberts in possession of a building that had 
been used by Protestants for a number of years, and 
was thought to be the oldest in the city, which is said 
to have been founded in 1586. This building was purely 

adobe, with the 
exception of the 
stone facings for 
windows and 
doors. The front 
was very nar- 
row, comprising 
only one room — 
the sala — and 
the zagnon, or 
entrance. The 
house was rent- 
ed by the Gen- 
eral Board as a 
preaching place. 
The long sala, 
which Miss Rob- 
erts had fitted 
up for school 
purposes, was 
also used for 
church services. 
Miss Roberts. The whole place 

was much out of repair, and from the appearance 
of the ancient-looking zagnon door, and by other 
signs of the touches of time, we readily believed 
the story when told that the house was three hundred 
years old. There was no glass in the windows. The 




IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 99 

heavy wooden shutters either shut out all of the light 
when most needed or let in ail of the cold when least 
wanted. The little three-legged stove, with its pipe 
running through the barred window, behind whose 
heavy shutter I crouched to shield my shivering form 
from wind and rain, 1 still hold in warmest affection, and 
still consider it the most comfortable friend I have in 
Mexico. It did its best to keep me warm under the 
most adverse circumstances. Miss Roberts had been so 
long accustomed to this altitude — over five thousand feet 
— and to these minor discomforts, that she only laughed 
at them as coming in the usual order of things. She re- 
marked that she " had been trying to dry off the floor," 
and hoped it would not rain during my visit. In some 
consternation I looked at the ceiling, and hoped so too. 
But our hopes were not verified: it did rain — it poured, 
and came down without mercy in the very center of the 
room. I asked: "Why live in such discomfort?" She 
replied: "The owner will not repair, and we can get no 
other for the same rent that will answer for school and 
church service." This discomfort, however, was felt 
only when it was cold and raining. Mexico's brightness 
is not long at a time under a cloud. I remember more 
sunshine than darkness, even during that first visit when 
things were not as they are now. 

Miss Roberts had not been two years in Saltillo, yet 
she was speaking the language with ease, and had many 
friends among the lower and middle classes, and had 
done good work under much difficulty. She was so full 
of energy and zeal that I felt sure she would be a most 
valuable coworker, which time has proved. 

We discussed methods and plans and different houses 
that we thought might suit, for we wanted to get the 
school in a more attractive form before the people. We 



100 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

parted, full of hope and encouragement, feeling sure that 
we might expect great things for Saltillo. We remem- 
bered the beginning at Laredo, and this outlook was far 
brighter than that. We knew that the arm of the Lord 
was not shortened, and that his protecting love would be 
extended over the one as it had been over the other. 

Miss Gilbert joined Miss Roberts immediately after 
my return to Laredo. Soon after she reached Saltillo, a 
new and much more comfortable home was secured, the 
school reorganized, and work begun. Even in that first 
year, when obstacles were not a few, forty-three pupils 
were reported, and we felt that Colegio Yngles, though 
not yet in its own buildings, was an established fact. 

Early this year Mrs. Anderson, of the Mississippi Con- 
ference, came in a most opportune moment. Miss Gil- 
bert's removal to Saltillo had left us with one helper 
less in our steadily growing household. Mrs. Anderson 
reached us before Faith Hall was finished, while we were 
in the midst of the greatest crowd and rush we have 
ever known. It was worse than the first year in the 
small building, because now we had a greater number of 
conflicting elements. We had "Young America" and 
"Young Mexico" united under one roof, though they 
were often far from being in a state of unity themselves. 
With a sigh of relief, we handed over our statesmen, 
lawyers, doctors, and professors in embryo to her safe 
keeping. Eight well she ruled them until a multiplicity 
of duties took them out of her hands. 

One of the peculiarities of our work, which I have 
noticed from the beginning, is the rapidity with which 
the time of a new helper is filled. No matter how many 
come, we feel that there is room and work for more. 
There were so many children now that the care of the 
family, outside of the school work, was enough to fill a 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



101 



dozen pairs of hands. A number of the children had 
been well trained in domestic work, but they needed 
some one to be with them and lead them; therefore the 
domestic cares bore heavily upon us. It was no wonder 
that we welcomed so heartily Mrs. Anderson, who had 




Mrs. Anderson. 

not been with us a month before we saw that we could 
not do without her. , 

Before the year closed Miss Lillie Y. Jones and Miss 
Bridges, both from Texas, joined us as volunteers. Many 



102 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

dear young girls have placed their time and talents as 
free-will offerings upon the altar of service in the Mexi- 
can work. Some of them have gone out from us after a 
years service, devoted friends of Missions, others have 
remained .year after year, becoming among our most ef- 
ficient teachers and helpers. Miss Bridges was with us 
a year. Soon after she left our home she married Mr. 
Ison, a member of the Kentucky Conference. Baby 
Nannie May Ison is a member of Laredo Band. Her 
name is called, and her dues paid as regularly as if she 
were always present. 

Mentioning again the Laredo Band brings to mind a 
little society organized this year by the indefatigable 
twelve-year-old Emil. His younger brothers, Wilhelm 
and Gilbert, were not so full of devices as he, but they 
made interested members, and were always present at 
the innumerable tea parties, ice-cream suppers, magic- 
lantern displays, concerts, etc., which the " True Blues " 
were always announcing would take place, much to the 
delight of the juvenile members of our home, and some- 
times to the serious disturbance of its overtaxed head. 
The objects for which the "True Blues" wanted money 
were always so worthy that we did not often have the heart 
to throw a damper on the ardor of the active little leader. 
Sometimes they wanted to aid the Cottie Hoge Library, 
at another to purchase a slab for the grave of Ester, for 
the pure white marble which marks her resting place is 
also a memento of the ceaseless activity of the child 
Emil. He found a willing helper in his friend Mamie, 
who, as an elder sister, was ever ready to forward any 
project of his youthful brain. The two have remained 
stanch friends through the passing years. She is now 
one of our band of teachers, while he, as I have said be- 
fore, ia making preparation for life's battle. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 103 

Early in the spring of this year, Miss Roberts and 
Miss Gilbert felt that I must see them in their new home. 
It was so fresh, so pretty, I must come. The work was 
opening up, and I had sent over Ysabel as native helper, 
as I said to her, " Our first missionary." She, too, wanted 
me to see her work. I found it indeed a "pretty home,"' 
and a most attractive school. Some of the best Mexican 
families were patronizing it. Among the first pupils 
was Adela, so gentle and sweet. I saw that Miss Rob- 
erts's affections were centering upon her. She remained 
in school until married. She became a student of the 
Bible, and her sweet, pure life has not been without its 
influence upon her family. 

An amusing as well as distressing scene occurred dur- 
ing this visit. The little dining room was a model of 
neatness; the table, from snowy cloth to pretty dishes, 
was particularly attractive. One day while Miss Roberts 
and Miss Gilbert were busy with the school work, and I 
equally busy with my pen, keeping up with my office 
work, a part of which I invariably take with me to Mex- 
ico, one of those sudden, heavy rains, with which we 
Mexicans are familiar, burst upon us. I looked up from 
my writing as the dash of water broke upon the window 
glass now, but I felt safe and secure in this comfortable 
new home, and in a moment resumed my writing. The 
water kept coming with such a dash and roar that I felt 
the sound was too near to be all outside. Opening the 
door leading to the dining room, I uttered a cry of dis- 
may. It were better had the whole thing been out of 
doors, for there the water came from the pure clouds 
above, but here, through the black dirt roof. One may 
imagine the scene. I learned that a house need not boast 
of throe centuries of sunshine and cloud to be able to 
bestow such generous pouring. I dreaded the coming 



104 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



of the tired teachers, who. also were the busy house- 
keepers. 

As soon as school closed at Laredo our two Kentucky 
Volunteers, accompanied by Miss Toland, left for rest and 




Miss Lillie V. Jones. 



recreation among their native hills. I doubt if our Mis- 
sion home ever witnessed busier scenes than those which 
followed the close of this school term. After three years' 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 105 

use of the main building for home and school combined, 
crowded more and more each year, it was not strange 
that the interior began to look old. Laredo sun and 
sand had done their work upon its exterior, but we felt 
that the comfort and health of the inmates demanded a 
thorough renovation of rooms and dormitories, and we 
must wait another year to beautify the outside. From 
the close of school in May until its opening in August 
¥e were painting, varnishing, calci mining, changing the 
old school rooms into office, hall, and dormitories. Be- 
sides this, it was the season for canning fruit, making 
jellies, preserves, and pickles. The work was appor- 
tioned according to our respective ability. I am sure 
that if Miss Toland had been at home, the jellies would 
have fallen to her. In those first days, when we were 
new in the mysteries of housekeeping, this pj,rt of the 
work seemed naturally to fall to her. After the first few 
trials, her quick decisiveness made her the best of jelly- 
makers. 

The summer was all too short for the work to be ac- 
complished, but by keeping at it the last days of vacation 
found us ready for school work. Much to our regret, 
Miss Holderby did not return. She had learned to love 
our Mexican children, and expressed a willingness to 
spend her life for them, but circumstances ordered other- 
wise. 

In the fall of this year Professor F. E. Koch took 
charge of the music department. During the six years 
he remained with us the school of music was one of the 
most attractive features of our seminary work. The pro- 
fessor was a thorough musician. He loved his art as if 
it were a living thing. Children whom we could not 
otherwise have touched have been drawn to us by the 
superior musical advantages which we were able to offer 



106 A DECADE OE MISSION LIFE 

under this competent teacher. Mexicans are a music- 
loving people; in fact, they are touched and wrought 
into enthusiasm by anything beautiful, be it in nature, 
music, or art. In our Mission we have endeavored never 
to lose sight of the one object for which we were called 
and sent — the salvation of souls. All the beauty and 
brightness which we could gather up and bring to bear 
upon the work we have considered but the means to 
the ever-glorious end. We doubt not that the thrilling 
power of Professor Koch's music, the delicate touches of 
Miss Mason's crayon, and the unrivaled beauty of Mrs. 
Barker's painting have held many a child under our in- 
fluence until a sense of higher and nobler music and 
beauty touched the soul. 

The opening of the fall term at Saltillo was full of 
promise. The North Carolina Conference gave a small 
organ to the school, and the Alabama Conference a 
piano. Miss Mason kindly consented to take charge of 
the music until Miss Roberts could secure some one else. 
It was with regret that we gave her up for even a short 
time. She was not only fully employed in school work, 
but one of her special duties was to see twenty or more 
little white-robed figures quietly stowed away at night, 
prayers said, verses repeated, and sometimes when these 
same little ones were extra good, a simple story read or 
told in her inimitable way was the reward. We could 
ill spare her, but any need of a new work has always 
seemed of more importance than the necessity of the old. 

The work was not only prosperous in that branch 
opened especially for the wealthier classes, and known 
as Colegio Yngles, but the school for the poor, under the 
supervision of Miss Gilbert, assisted by Ysabel, was rap- 
idly filling up. The little organ was the pride of this 
department. Ysabel had developed a taste for music ; she 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



107 



had a strong, sweet voice, though I will have to admit 
that at that time her singing was very often more hearty 
than artistic. The enthusiasm of this Mexican girl of 
scarcely fifteen years in the work in which she was as- 




Prof. F. R. Koch. 



sisting was very beautiful to me, though we were often 
amused over her account of the day's work. There was 
one little boy, Andres, in this school, scarcely more than 



108 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

a baby, of whom she never tired telling me, nearly al- 
ways ending the story of his wonderful powers with, 
" He is smarter than anything you have at the semi- 
nary." The acme of her desire seemed to be that her 
pupils should equal mine in intelligence, but in this in- 
stance she could not refrain from letting me know that 
she was a little beyond me in that respect. 

The close of this term fulfilled the promise of the 
opening, for the enrollment was sixty-six. Among the 
pupils who took hold of Miss Mason's heart were 
Augusta and Juanita; the latter a little girl whose great 
brown eyes with their liquid light touched you in spite 
of yourself. 

Among those who visited us at Laredo during this 
year was Bishop Duncan. His stay was so short that 
we feared he had not seen our work to advantage, but 
he assured us that we should ever have an abiding place 
in his affections. He has proved this by many a kindly 
word and deed since. It is hardly possible to tell how 
these living touches of love and interest from the home 
field revive and cheer our spirits. We number them 
among the special blessings of the years. 

This fifth year, which we missionaries count as the 
first milestone, was to me one too full of mercy and 
blessing for words of mine to express. In the words of 
the psalmist (xl. 5) I close it: "Many, O Lord my God, 
are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy 
thoughts which are to us-ward : they cannot be reck- 
oned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and 
speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." 



CHAPTEE VI. 

1888-1889 

THE LAUNDRY — CENTRAL CONFERENCE — DURANGO WORK ADOPTED 
— PROPERTY PURCHASED IN SALTILLO. 

" Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be estab- 
lished." 

IT was in this year that the laundry was completed. As 
stated before, the thought was given me to make a sec- 
ond story, thus gaining a temporary home for the boys. 
This gave us two more schoolrooms, in which the two 
grades, pushed out of Faith Hall by the increase in the 
school of music, found a resting place. There were 
two other rooms: a large dormitory, accommodating^ 
ten two-story beds, and a smaller room for the lady in 
charge. 

For the ground upon which this building was situa- 
ted, we were indebted to the same generous donor who 
had given us the first block of land. At the time of 
this second gift, the Board had also generously appro- 
priated for the purchase of a north block. The city 
kindly consented to the closing of streets. By these 
means our borders were enlarged. The boys now had a 
campus of their own: the dividing line between it and 
that of the girls was a broad drive, which both parties 
innocently endeavored to convince me was neutral ground. 

Miss Dillard was to have the care of this boys' home. 
Fortunately for us at this time, there were more boys as 
day pupils than as boarders; therefore our twenty cots 
proved sufficient for present need,. and we would not 
trouble over the future. As one boarder would drop 



110 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



out, another would drop in; so we passed through the 
year comfortably well. 

The boys had possession of their campus but a short 
time before their irrepressible activity sought an outlet. 




The Twins. 



Much to the disturbance of my sister's sense of order, 
they determined upon a system of original gardening, 
which assumed rather formidable proportions, as almost 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. Ill 

every boy was equally opposed to partnership. Sud- 
denly there appeared upon our neatly kept grounds a 
motley array of what we supposed were intended to be 
inclosed squares. No two pickets were of the same 
width or length. After all barrels and boxes had been 
demolished and brought into service for this purpose, the 
branches of the small thorn bush, which abounds near 
Laredo, were cut and heaped one upon another until 
an impenetrable hedge inclosed each individual garden, 
and, with the exception of the pickets above named, 
there was one mass of thorns. They were so intent upon 
hedging securely their own special property that they 
cared little for the innumerable rents in trousers and 
jackets, or scratches on faces and hands. The planning 
of the gardens and the planting of various seeds bore 
the same unmistakable marks of originality. Blessed 
little heroes ! they were as unconscious of any incon- 
gruity in their methods as if all had been done in pre- 
cise mathematical order. Sister's consternation would 
have been laughable had I not known that " things out 
of order" were a source of real pain to her sense of 
nicety and precision. I had to admit that I had given 
permission, but tried to excuse myself by saying that I 
had not dreamed of such an outcome. Now that they 
were there, I saw nothing to be done but to leave them, 
for the boys would be heart- broken to have to destroy 
what had given them so much pleasure to produce. From 
the door of the hall, which led to my office, we could 
see the " little men " bupy as bees. Sister was disarmed 
by their brightness and activity. The Morton brothers 
— the twins, and our little runaway Luis — were the 
leaders in this movement, as they were in nearly all 
projects which served as outlets for pent-up energy. 
The twins were sit-ter's special pride and pleasure, as 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 113 

well as care. They were the leaders of her grade as 
well as in this gardening. As soon as they spied her, 
they ran forward with confidence to borrow her garden 
tools and gain permission to use the hose, or carry water 
from the low tank. Now it was my time to look serious, 
and begin to doubt the wisdom of this independent gar- 
dening. I guarded those tanks of water more jealously 
than anything else on the seminary ground. Now sis- 
ter turned pleader, and water and tools were granted. 
Those primitive efforts at gardening were not all a fail- 
ure; many a nickel from their products found its way 
to the dulce vender, while not a few went to the Sunday- 
school collection and missionary society. Though their 
dream of wealth was not realized, they were, from these 
efforts, far richer than they had dreamed. When the 
time came for vacation clearing of rubbish, it was with 
a little sigh of regret that I saw the last brush and 
picket disappeai*, for it told me the active boys with 
their busy brains were no longer there, and who ever 
knew the same circle to gather again unbroken? 

The boys were charmed with their two-story beds, 
upon which, at every opportune and inopportune mo- 
ment, sham battles were fought, with pillows for weap- 
ons. No, I forget; not always sham battles with only 
pillows. Many a time the conflict became a real one, 
and the sound of cries and blows would bring the watch- 
ful teacher upon the scene, where moral suasion some- 
times needed forceful enforcement to secure peace and 
quiet between the conflicting parties. 

Though we had enlarged our dining room the year 
before, more room was again the cry. Another dining 
room had become a necessity. The old one had been 
stretched to its utmost capacity. We teachers thought 
it would be a rest and pleasure to take our meals to- 
8 



114 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



gether, away from the clatter of hundreds of knives, 
forks, and spoons. Thus our pretty little addition came 
to be called " teachers' dining room." The children re- 
ceived the innovation according to their different dis- 




Clemmie. 



positions; some pouted and cried because we were to 
leave; some laughed and said, "We will have lots of 
fun;" while others were not so sure of that, "for Mrs. 
Anderson or somebody else will keep us straight." We 
moved quietly on, seemingly indifferent to the opinions 
so freely expressed. The change was made; then none 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 115 

so ready to wait upon us as Mieaila, Lola, Maria, Lolita, 
and others who were anxious for the extra duty. They 
did it so quietly and gracefully that it seemed more the 
service of love than of duty. 



Mieaila. 



We tried the separation for several years, then re- 
turned to the original plan; now there is a teacher or 
helper at every table. The seniors fell to my portion. 



116 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

I wanted the little tots, but sister and Mrs. Anderson 
overruled me. It might have been out of sympathy 
with the babies (I am so often called away), or it might 
have been their watchful care, which would shield me 
from every burden. Be that as it may, the graduates 
are mine. We take our meals together in the " teach- 
ers' quiet little dining room," which is not always quiet, 
as the twins, Genaro and Jose, one upon my right, the 
other upon my left, get into a lively discussion with 
Clemmie and Micaila, who sit farther away; into which 
discussion the more quiet Mary and May are drawn, the 
four girls against the two boys, an unequal contest, 
until Clemmie slyly changes to Genaro's side, and the 
tables are turned. 

The vacation of this year was spent in making the 
outside of our home new, as we had spent the year be- 
fore in renovating the inside, though there was this dif- 
ference: then we did most of the work, now the painters 
had the burden. They were rushed, as we had been, to 
finish for the opening of school, while we were equally 
hurried with the usual vacation work. We are some- 
times asked why we do not get away from this busy 
round and spend our vacations in quieter places and 
newer scenes. Once in awhile we may do this, but a 
missionary with every fiber of her being centered in the 
advancement of her Mission realizes that the success of 
the ensuing year depends in a large measure upon the 
plan and work of the vacation. Besides this, the chil- 
dren who remain with us in the home come closer into 
our lives, and we learn to know them and love them as 
we could never do otherwise. 

Nothing can ever blot from my memory the scenes of 
one of those vacation seasons, or take from my abiding 
love the two babies, Lupita and Aurora, who were the 






IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



117 



main actors therein. As I write I hear again their lit- 
tle pattering feet upon the stair as they ran with the 
speed and grace of gazelles from my sister's room up- 
stairs to my office below, carrying from one to the 
other message after message which were sometimes 
necessary, tru t 
just as frequent- 
ly because they 
wanted to "play 
telephone." The 
gleeful ring of 
their baby 
laughter was 
music to my 
ear, as they 
passed each oth- 
er on rapid feet 
to see which 
should get to 
her end of the 
line first. 1 
thought it love- 
ly then, as , 
g r o w n weary 
with play, they 
chatted quietly 
by my side, or 
played with pic- 
tures upon the 

office floor. The scene is even lovelier to me now, en- 
shrined within my heart, because the baby form of Au- 
rora — beautiful as her name, morning light — was soon 
after borne to the " city not made with hands, eternal in 
the heavens." 




Miss May Morton, 



118 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

Toward the close of the year Miss Mason returned to 
Laredo, and " Lizzie," who was now a young lady of 
seventeen, took the music class in Saltillo for the winter 
term. She had been with us since our first year. We 




Miss Mary Watt. 

felt glad and grateful that she was both willing and 
competent to help carry forward the plans of our new 
work at Saltillo. She had so long been associated with 
our Mexican children that she understood and loved 
them. She and Ysabel had been chums in the early 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 119 

years, and now both were happy over the prospect of 
working together for the advancement of the same 
cause, though in different departments. 

It was in November of this year that, in company 
with Mrs. Park, I had the opportunity of visiting some 
of the important cities of Mexico, with the view of 
placing the outlook before the Board. 

Up to this time Saltillo had been the terminus of the 
Mexican National Road. JSTow the gap between Saltillo 
and San Luis Potosi, a distance of nearly two hundred 
and fifty miles, had been finished, which completed the 
road between Laredo and the City of Mexico. There 
had been considerable passing by impatient travelers, 
with no better accommodations than the construction 
train could afford. Some months before I had been 
tempted to try the same mode of travel, in company 
with Mr. Beall and family, of the Presbyterian Mission, 
who had been sent to make their headquarters at San 
Luis Potosi. 1 sat nearly an entire day with bonnet 
and wraps, ready to leave at a moment's notice. There 
was no fixed time for leaving and arriving of the train, 
so one had to stand in readiness or there would have 
been no chance of boarding it. I did not go at that 
time, and was glad now that I had been prevented, 
because Mrs. Park would be my traveling companion. 
We spent several days with the Saltillo missionaries, 
then left one morning in company with Rev. A. H. 
Sutherland, who was en route for San Luis Potosi, where 
the Central Conference was to be held. My first im- 
pressions of this beautiful city were not very favorable, 
as it was a season of unusual dampness and cold. Had 
it been possible, the warmth of greeting from Rev. 
James Norwood and his lovely wife would have com- 
pensated for the inclemency of the weather. Mission- 



120 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



aries and native preachers were gathering for the An- 
nual Conference, over which Bishop Galloway presided. 
Here I met for the first time brothers Norwood, Grimes, 




Lupita. 

Watkins, Carter, and Winton, who have ever since re- 
mained personal friends, always willing to lend us their 
aid and sympathy in our efforts to establish the work of 
the Woman's Board. Rev. J. W. Grimes was considered 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



121 



the pioneer in San Luis work. Mrs. Norwood was 
teaching a small school under the auspices of the Rose- 
buds of Virginia. The rapid growth of the plants at 
Laredo and Saltillo had led her to hope that this school 
might be adopted by our Board, as she did not want to 
teach longer, and 
there was seem- 
ingly no availa- 
ble person to 
take charge of 
the Rosebud 
work. This ar- 
rangement, how- 
ever, was not 
made, and it was 
not until several 
years afterwards 
that we succeed- 
ed in becoming 
established in the 
city. 

As we were but 
a night's ride 
from the ancient 
and renowned 
City of Mexico, 
it required but 
little urging on 

the part of brothers Watkins and Carter to induce us 
to visit it. We expected to breakfast with Mrs. Car- 
ter in the city the morning after leaving San Luis. We 
retired to our berths early, anxious to be up in time to 
see the magnificent country through which we were to 
pass a few hours before reaching the city. At midnight 




Aurora. 



122 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

there was a slight jar or jostle of the sleeper which 
aroused me for a moment, but as everything seemed 
quiet, I soon fell asleep, wholly unconscious of the dan- 
ger we had escaped. Waking early, I called Mrs. Park, 
and said: "It seems to me that we have been standing 
still a long while." "Yes," she replied, "since midnight, 
or a little after." Dressing quickly, I sought to know 
the cause of our detention. An immense bowlder had 
fallen upon the track from the side of the mountain 
around which we had been running. We had just turned 
one of the sharp curves which abound on this road. The 
engineer saw it in time to check the speed of the train, 
but not soon enough to prevent the wreck of the engine, 
throwing it from the track within a foot of a precipice, 
down which it seemed a marvel that the whole train had 
not been plunged. Some one asked the engineer why he 
did not jump, and leave the train to its fate. He replied: 
"My first impulse was to jump; then I thought of the 
long train of human freight for which I was responsible, 
and I determined to remain at my post, though I ex- 
pected it to cost me my life." All honor to the brave 
engineer, who, by his fidelity, left outside the danger 
line the human cargo which had been intrusted to his 
keeping. The slightest swerving from duty in that hour 
of peril would, no doubt, have cost him the life that he 
had tried to preserve, besides plunging into destruction 
the sleeping passengers. 

It was with glad, grateful hearts that our party gath- 
ered to breakfast from the basket which Mrs. Norwood 
had so kindly provided, and against which provision 
some of us had protested, because " we would take 
breakfast with our friends in the city." 

We felt such gratitude at the preservation of our lives 
that there were no expressions of impatience from the 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



123 



tired passengers as the hours " dragged their weary 
length." Finally the joyous news flew from mouth to 
mouth that the train was in sight which was to bear us 
on our journey. 




Lizzie. 



Brother and sister Carter, with their two babies, Ella 
and Keith, occupied the former home of Dr. and Mrs. 
Patterson — the latter my early playmate, "Delia," whose 



124 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

father and mother were the tender friends of my widowed 
mother. We were inseparable friends — my sister, "De- 
lia,"' who bore my sisters name, and I — until the years 
came between, and we knew nothing more of one an- 
other until this blessed mission work brought our lives 
in touch again, though we have never met face to face 
since we parted as children in the long ago. She and 
Tier husband were spreading the glad tidings in a distant 
land. Only a short time before my visit they had gone, 
.and now I was for awhile the guest of another in the 
home that she had brightened with her presence. 

We had only a few days to spend in sight-seeing, but, 
through the unwearying kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Car- 
ter and Mr. and Mrs. Watkins, were taken to see many 
of the points of interest in this marvelously beautiful 
city, nearly eight thousand feet above sea level; whose 
climate, even in December, we found charming, notwith- 
standing the chill of morning and evening. 

I might write of our visit to Chapultepec, now the 
summer home of Mexico's noble President, Porfirio Diaz, 
but one time the palace of Maximilian and his devoted 
Carlotta. Still farther back in the ages, it is said, the 
gentle Montezuma rested beneath the widespreading 
branches of the gigantic cypress trees which line the 
base of the rock-ribbed hill upon which the palace stands, 
and called Chapultepec his home. I might tell of the 
flower market, with flowers such as I had never seen be- 
fore; of the magnificent cathedral, whose corner stone 
was laid more than three centuries ago, and from whose 
grandeur I turned to watch the gambols of the Indian 
children, who, with their parents, sold their wealth of 
blooms to the passers-by; I might write of the museum, 
where we saw the "sacrificial stone," upon which, it is 
.said, the ancient Aztec offered the warm and still throb- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 125 

bing heart of the human victim; other things, too, we 
saw, things that told of the horrors of the Inquisition, 
which horrors would be repeated to-day had not such 
men as Hidalgo, Juarez, and others like them, poured 
out their life's blood for Mexico's freedom ; but all of that 
would be history, and I am not writing history. I won- 
der how many will believe me when I say that one of the 
most attractive things, by far to me, in this city, which 
is lovelier than words can tell, was a little Indian girl of 
scarcely six summers, who sprang to my side with a 
bunch of soft-eyed pansies, offering it to me for a few 
centavos. What cared she, though the rounded shoul- 
ders were bare, the chubby feet without shoes, and un- 
washed the dimpled fingers that clasped those delicate 
things of nature? She did not care; why should I? The 
sparkling eyes looked up into mine as I smilingly shook 
my head to see what the little thing would do, and with 
a gleeful laugh she sprang to the bank of flowers and 
darted forward again, this time with sweet-scented vio- 
lets. How gladly would I have gathered this human 
floweret to my heart and home! I breathed a prayer for 
her to Him who watcheth even the sparrow; and who 
knows, who can tell, but that when I reach home I may 
find this Aztec gem in my crown of rejoicing? We felt 
that we had not half enough time in this fairy land, where 
I trust some day to see one of our Mission homes as large 
and as fair as that upon the banks of the Rio Grande. 
Though others — our sister Churches, Methodist Episcopal 
and Presbyterian — have prosperous work, yet there is 
room for us. 

Three bright, never-to-be-forgotten days, and then the 
train bore us northward to the city of Chihuahua, where 
Rev. S. G-. Kilgore met us at the station. Soon we were 
seated by the welcome fire, and year-and-a-half old Abbie 



126 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



was doing her best to entertain us in her graceful baby 
way. There was only Abbie then; now there are B., C, 
S., and J., little blue-eyed, flaxen-haired Kilgores, who 
make merry the Mission home. Mrs. Park laughed when 
baby Abbie wns won over by her coaxing, disdaining 

wine. It was not 
long before we 
were talking Mis- 
sions and mis- 
sions. 

The next morn- 
ing we looked 
over the home, 
and viewed the 
property which 
brother Kilgore 
thought might 
be secured as a 
site for a school 
under our own 
Board . Mrs. 
Park was sure 
to be at the next 
annual meeting; 
she always had a 
word of love for 
Abbie Ki,gore - Mexico. I, too, 

might be there to plead the claim of every city, far and 
wide, in this fair land, but just now especially would I 
plead for Chihuahua and San Luis Poto.-i. 

We could spend but a day, and then we were ready 
for our home trip. We had to go down the Central to 
Calaya, where we were to pass the night. Everybody 
thought it a fearful place to stay overnight. We had 




IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 127 

many advisers as to what we should do and where we 
should go. But we did not find it " fearful." No fairer 
moon ever shone than that which threw its silvery beams 
upon us as we wended our way to the hotel, whose pro- 
prietor, with his numerous retinue of servants, had al- 
ready taken us in charge. Never were we more kindly 
treated, never more faithfully served than during that 
night at Calaya, and I am quite sure that we never had 
so many to wait on us at any one time before or since. 

Another day, and we had safely reached Colegio Yngles 
and Miss .Roberts. Mrs. Park went on next day to La- 
redo. Miss Toland joined me at Saltillo, where we were 
to hold our first annual meeting. Until this year we had 
all been at Laredo. We were closing the first year in 
which we could claim two instead of one Mission home. 
We remember this first meeting of missionaries as a 
pleasant reunion, and some of the methods and plans 
then discussed are realities in the enlarged work of to- 
day. 

Early in the spring of this year Miss Gilbert's health 
gave way, and she had to return home. This left Miss 
.Roberts alone with Ysabel and Lizzie as helpers. 

I had been requested to visit Durango, but the long 
ride of one hundred and fifty miles in the diligencia 
over the mountains was considered too much of an un- 
dertaking for me. Those who had tried it said that I 
u could not and must not." So the trip was abandoned, 
and letters took the place of personal investigation. 
Durango, the home of Eobert MacDonell, how we longed 
to see a Mission school established there, bringing forth 
fruit from the seed that he had sown ! 

I did attend the meeting at Little Rock this year, and 
in very truth did plead for Chihuahua, San Luis Poto^i, 
and Durango especially, while other cities were not for- 



128 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



gotten. Because of the memory of our brother, Duran- 
go was adopted, but no provision made for a permanent 
home. It was with rejoicing we learned that it had 




Mrs. Miller. 



come under the fostering care of our Board, for we knew 
that meant the establishment of a school upon a broad, 
liberal basis. 

We were three missions now. Our borders were ex- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 129 

tending. There was a need for more laborers. A call 
was made, and missionaries responded. Four were sent 
to Mexico. Three of these, Mrs. McClendon, Miss Baker, 
and Miss Lizzie Wilson, of Kentucky, went to Laredo to 
prepare for the work as it advanced. Miss Tydings, of 
Florida, was sent to reenforce Miss Eoberts. At this 
meeting at Little Rock an appropriation was made to 
purchase property for the Saltillo work, so that it might 
have a home of its own. This made it necessary for me 
to visit Saltillo to look at property. In company with 
Miss Eoberts, I visited many places said to be for sale. 
Some were too large, and in price would go far beyond 
our money; some were too small, or on an undesirable 
street. One difficulty after another presented itself. 

At that time there was no missionary of the General 
Board residing at Saltillo. Mr. Powell, of the Baptist 
Mission, was a personal friend of Miss Eoberts. He often 
said that he had but one objection to our little " Texas 
pine-knot," as we affectionately call her, and that was 
she was " not a Baptist." She felt no hesitation in ask- 
ing his advice in the selection of property. As soon as 
he learned our desire, he kindly offered to do all in his 
power to assist us. He visited with us a number of 
places, to all of which there arose some objection pre- 
venting final purchase. After each day's search, though 
begun with prayer and trust, we returned to our rented 
home, tired and somewhat discouraged. But we com- 
forted one another with the word of promise, which had 
never failed. At length, Mr. Powell came early one 
morning and said: " What do you think of the old 
place? " Miss Eoberts uttered a little cry of disappoint- 
ment: "So ugly!" I said nothing for a moment. I 
think that our aircastles of a large, lovely Mexican home 
began to topple. Turning to Mr. Powell, I said: "Its 
9 



130 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

recommendations, please." He laughed outright, and 
rubbed his hands together, as was his wont when much 
amused. I think that he must have had in mind that 




Baby Margaret Miller. 

scene of pouring rain in the old house. Seeing my look 
of surprise, he became serious in a moment, though still 
smiling, and said: "It has some, though your question 
implies a doubt. Aliow me," and he began to count upon 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 131 

his fingers, " first, about the best, if not really the best, 
street in the city; second — '' "So very narrow," broke 
in Miss Roberts. "True," he replied, "but very long, 
which I affirm you will find an advantage; third, it be- 
longs to parties who are anxious to sell, and will take a 
reasonably low price; fourth, and not to be despised, the 
titles will be well secured; fifth, and last, you will have 
money left from the purchase to make it almost as good 
as new." By the time he had finished, we were ready to 
take a look at our " three-century " house, and see where 
improvements could be made, and if it were possible for 
us to accomplish the wonders which Mr. Powell was now 
busily naming. Need I tell the result? It may not be 
so beautiful as some of our later homes, but none more 
comfortable, none more home-like, none with more sun- 
shine, brightness, life, and activity than Colegio Yngles, 
with all four of its departments in one compound. It 
took weeks, months even, to get the place habitable; but 
we were as happy and proud over it as if it had been a 
palace, when we moved in, and felt that another home 
and school were our very own, and another mighty wave 
with its ever-widening circles had been set in motion. 

As heretofore, the time of the new missionaries sent 
to us was soon filled, that of some even to overflowing. 
Among the new helpers of the Laredo work were Miss 
Jones (now Mrs. Franklin, of Georgia) and Miss McClen- 
don, daughter of our missionary (now Mrs. Miller, of 
Austin). The latter had just graduated from the Wes- 
leyan College, Macon, G-a. ; a graceful, intelligent young 
girl, helping us in and out of school, as necessity re- 
quired. 

The steadily increasing work at Saltillo was constant- 
ly calling for more helpers. The year was not half spent 
before Miss Eoberts wrote : " Send me some one, if possi- 



132 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE. 



ble." Miss McClendon readily consented to go. Her 
aptitude for language, and her bright, graceful ways, 
soon made her efficient in the schoolroom and a favorite 
in the family. 







Miss " Georgia " Jones. 

I supposejithat I would have the right to call baby 
"Margaret Miller" "the child of the Mission," but I do 
not feel quite sure that Mrs. McClendon would permit 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 133 

me to lay the same claim to her that I do to my Mexi- 
can grendchildren. Almost any of us would be glad to 
get in, even edgewise, a claim of relationship to such a 
precious morsel of humanity. As her grandmother is my 
sister missionary, probably I may with safety write of 
her as my baby " niece." 

Miss Jones, of Georgia, came to us through the influ- 
ence of Mrs. Trueheart. She had been one of her " girls " 
in the Kentucky home. Having two helpers of the same 
name, we naturally fell into the habit of distinguishing 
them by their States: Miss "Texas" Jones and Miss 
"Georgia" Jones. They were both ambitious to see the 
rapid advancement of their grades, and as was very 
often the case they had " remarkable " children under 
instruction. Sometimes it was " Texas," then again it 
was " Georgia," who had the very " smartest children of 
all." Blessings upon their lives for the enthusiasm with 
which they entered into the Mission work! 

Our missionary, Miss Baker, was very much attached 
to her grade, which consisted of about twenty little folks, 
among whom were Jessie, Ethel, Eluteria, and others 
whom we do not now recall. Eluteria she specially 
loved; she was so quiet — one of those children who, it 
seems, would slip through the world unnoticed if some 
one did not single them out, and make an effort to dis- 
cover hidden qualities. Her life was made brighter by 
her teacher's desire to understand and develop her 
Since that time the child has passed through deep, deep 
sorrow. One fall the mother came with her on her re- 
turn to school, bringing also a younger sister. She her-, 
self was making arrangements to go away some little 
distance. What was it that made her turn, with a sud- 
den impulse, just as she was leaving the door, and say: 
•" If I never return, the children are yours." Scarcely a 



134 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



month had gone, when, without warning, a cruel letter 
was placed in Eluteria's hands saying that her mother 
had been killed and was already buried. The hours of 




Eluteria. 



distress which followed I shall never forget: one mo- 
ment with her head pillowed upon my arm, the next 
writhing in agony upon the floor; then, with a scream 
of terror, rushing again to my arms. Yainiy I tried to 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 135 

hold her. Not until soothing potions were administered 
did she fall into a troubled sleep, from which we dreaded 
the awakening. These two children were left entirely 
with us for support. The auxiliary of Brenham, Tex., 
kindly undertook to clothe Eluteria, while Miss Baker 
has also remembered her with gifts. 

One of our volunteer helpers this year was Miss Hun- 
ter, now Mrs. Thomas, a Texas girl. She helped us both 
at Laredo and Saltillo until pressing home cares called 
her from us. She had the faculty of gaining the affec- 
tion of children, who worked their best for her because 
they loved her. The children of her Sunday-school class 
proved her faithful teaching by their interest, and the 
readiness with which they responded to calls for practi- 
cal points of the lesson or memory verses. One dear lit- 
tle thing rises before me as I write — Grenoveva. She was 
scarcely six when her mother brought her to our home, 
saying that I might keep her for my own, at least until 
she was educated. The child was delicate, though bright 
and winsome. Her truthfulness and uprightness of char- 
acter endeared her to us. Her originality of expression 
was refreshing. Dr. John and brother Oxley would have 
been gratified, as well as amused, at her exposition of 
their sermons, and the practical application G-enoveva 
made of them. Miss Hunter became much interested in 
her, and for a number of years assisted in clothing her. 
During the vacation, following the term in which she en- 
tered the sixth grade, her mother had some family trou- 
ble which decided her to keep Genoveva at home. We 
watched quite impatiently for her return. We hunted 
her up to see what was the matter, and if we could not 
regain our hold upon her; but all our efforts proved in- 
effectual. We trusted for the dear little thing, and tried 
to put her out of mind. After some time, we heard that 



136 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



she was in the home of Mrs. Ramsey, a Presbyterian 
lady, and we knew that she would be well cared for. 
Again we heard that she was no longer there. We re- 




Miss Hunter. 



newed our search, but could not find her. One summer 
I received a letter, the writing of which I did not recog- 
nize. The letter was full of love and affection, partially 
hidden by the shyness of expression. At the close I 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 137 

read : " Your child, G-enoveva." My heart gave a sudden 
bound of delight. I replied immediately. Another let- 
ter came, which received a similar quick response. This 
second letter was soon followed by the child herself; the 
same gentle, winning creature, yet filled with ambition 
to resume her studies, saying: "1 do not want to stop 
again until I receive my education." Her quick response 
to every call, prompt obedience to each command, and 
her quaint little womanly ways, " Yes, dear, 1 am com- 
ing," make us smile, while we love her the more. Tell- 
ing of this child's letters brings to mind one that 1 re- 
ceived while in Catlettsburg from little Luisa, who was 
very fond of our English songs. The letter was the 
source of great amusement to Mrs. Park. After I had 
with great difficulty deciphered the meaning of her 
broken English expressions of affection and pain at my 
absence, I read quite clearly at the close: "Turn, sinner, 
turn; why will you die? " 

Among the children with us this year were Chonita 
and Paula. Our new missionary, Miss Lizzie Wilson, 
soon had her heart and hands filled with love and care 
for our little ones, these two especially. Chonita had 
"my society," as also had Paula. The former was 
clothed by the " Living Lights," of San Antonio, watched 
over and kept up by Miss Tillie Johnson, now the wife 
of Mr. Robert C. Elliott, our missionary at Durango. 
Paula's " society " was that of Woodville, Tex., whose 
inspiration was Mrs. Browning. These were two favored 
children. Their clothing was carefully selected and 
made. Miss Wilson took care of them as if they were 
her very own. She was always telling of some " cute " 
saying of Chona or winning way of Paula. 

The thought of Chona brings sadness. We had been 
-told that her mother had given her to the family who 



138 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



gave her to us. For several years she was happy in our 
home, then suddenly the mother appeared, and just as 
suddenly the child was gone. Chona was not very pret- 




Chonita. 



ty, except when she smiled; then the dimples played 
hide and seek in her plump little cheeks, and her whole 
face lit up. She was generous almost to a fault. Often 
when Miss Wilson had given the bath and assorted the 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



139 



clothes for the various little ones, Chona would feel quite 
sorry for some one less fortunate than herself, and would 
sa y j°yously: "You may lend that to somebody, for I 




Paula. 



have twoT Every little tot had her own partition, or 
shelf, in the large presses of the bathroom. Chona 
could tell to a garment just how many she possessed, 
and the unfortunate one who did not have " my society " 



140 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

was sure to find a sympathizing friend in her. It was 
not so with Paula. No matter how full the " shelf" 
might be, and some in the trunk besides, there was never 
a garment to spare, though Paula had many redeeming 
qualities. If Miss Wilson was suffering from headache, 
you could not keep Paula away from her. She would 
slip into the room so quietly that no one would know 
she was there until a cool, soft little hand was pressed 
over the aching brow, and she would whisper: "I wish 
I were big, like Maria, then I could take care of you." 
How often have the tears sprung to the eyes of the tired 
missionary, as these expressions of love and tenderness 
fell from the lips of the children of her adopted people — 
sometimes, in the midst of trial and discouragement, com- 
ing as the promise of the " hundred- fold." 

The close of another year! How little we dreamed of 
the trials or of the wonderful blessings which awaited 
us in the coming one! The darkness of the night shut 
us in; we slept, we awaked; and there, face to face, we 
stood with the opening of the seventh year of our 
JMission. 



CHAPTER VII. 

1889—1890. 

HARVEST YEAR — SAN LUIS POTOSI — LAREDO DAY SCHOOL — 
CHIHUAHUA. 

" This is the Lord's doing ; it is marvelous in our eyes." 

THIS, the seventh year of our Mission life, we have 
been wont to call the " harvest year." Though the 
spiritual wave which swept with such irresistible power 
over our home did not reach full tide until months after 
the opening of the year, we had for some time felt the 
advancing ripples which told that the " tide was coming 
in." We had looked forward to this harvest as a sure 
result, but when or how it might come we did not know. 
With this, as with many another strangely marvelous 
thing which touches the life, it came, as it were, with 
the speaking of a word. 

Rev. A. H. Sutherland was then, as he had been for 
many years, the leader of the Border Mission. He had 
been with us a day, attending to the regular routine of 
business, which comes to every presiding elder. As a 
rule, he preached in Spanish. A few hours before the 
time of his leaving, Mrs. Anderson said to him: "You 
are partial to the children; you give them the most of 
your preaching. I wish you would give us an English 
sermon.' He smilingly said: "You should learn Span- 
ish." " Yes," she replied, " but that is not the question. 
I want to know if you will preach especially to and for 
us, the teachers." " If you wish it, I certainly will," he 
answered. Then turning to me, he asked: " When shall 
it be?" I replied: "I never knew a better time than 
1 now ' for the beginning of any good work." 



144 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

So it was arranged that he should preach that same 
evening. The text 1 do not remember; a word of the 
sermon I do not recall; the result, only, ineffaceably re- 
mains. From the first sermon the power of the Spirit's 
presence was felt. Two of the teachers sought to know 
a higher plane of Christian experience. The second 
evening others knew and felt that there was a lack of 
strength in the life they professed to lead. The third 
evening pupils were awakened to new interest, and be 
fore the fourth evening closed our souls sang praises 
" unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins 
in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests 
unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion 
forever and ever." I am sure there never was a holier 
scene than that which gladdened our hearts on this 
evening of which I write. Our home had never been so 
crowded before. Faith Hall had never held, at any one 
time, so many precious souls in whom we were person- 
ally interested. Some were at the altar because of the 
invitation to draw near; but whence came the whisper 
of the voice which caused one, another, then another to 
kneel, until kneeling forms alone were seen? The low 
sob of a troubled soul broke the almost deathlike still- 
ness; subdued, pleading cries rose here and there, until 
all the room was filled with the breath of prayer. What 
was it that caused little Ethel, with radiant face, to pass 
her arm around the neck of the kneeling classmate, and 
what power possessed the whispered word to bring the 
prostrate child to her feet, who, in her turn, had a word 
for another bowed form? Whence came the light that 
flashed into Edith's face as she turned from the preacher 
and sped down the aisle to take a faltering one by the 
hand, or slip her arm, as Ethel had done, around the 
form of a kneeling companion, with like result? Who 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 145 

gave Yiva the power to speak the word which brought 
Wilhelm close to the Saviour's side, from which safe hid- 
ing place he has never turned? What made Micaila, 
timid as a fawn, strong to plead a Redeemer's love to 
large and small, until they were brought into the same 
blessed light in which she stood? What was it that 
brought the boys to their feet and gave them the cour- 
age to acknowledge that they "had been born again?" 
Who gave Saida the power to bring others to Christ? 
What was it that touched the obdurate heart of little Flo- 
rinda, who, though often sorely tempted, never afterwards 
doubted her conversion? What was it that caused our 
first Mexican baby, Masia, now our skillful organist, to 
break away from her post of duty, saying, as she did so, 
"I can stand it no longer?" Why was it that Cristina 
would not leave the altar until she could cry, "Abba, 
Father? " Why was it that Eloisa, the first child of 
our home, could not force herself to leave Faith Hall, 
though the hour grew late, until she could claim Jesus 
as her Saviour, "above all and through all?" Aye, who 
may answer these questions save He who said, " Except 
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of 
God?" "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou 
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it 
cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is 
born of the Spirit." Try as I will, there is no language 
to depict this scene over which the angels made joy in 
heaven. 

Turning from this triumphant victory, we encountered 
trials and cares which as minor chords softened the ju- 
bilant song of our hearts. There was scarcely one in 
the home who escaped la grippe. Teacher and pupil 
alike were its victims. We had many times during 
these years longed for a large, well -ventilated room 
10 



146 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

which we might have solely for a hospital. We had 
used a room which served very well, when not more 
than three or four were sick at a time, but we were 
soon compelled to give it up either for teachers or pu- 
pils, according to the demand. At this time some of 
our new missionaries and helpers were occupying it. 
The small room we used then, and which we still call 
the hospital, could not accommodate more than one pa- 
tient comfortably with the lady in charge. Missionaries 
must be hospital nurses as well as teachers, housekeep- 
ers, etc. Our dear little missionary, Miss Lizzie Wilson, 
who had so recently come to us, asked for the hospital. 
This ever-ready, willing helper can never realize the 
burden which suddenly rolled away from my overtaxed 
heart and brain, when she volunteered to care for the 
suffering ones, until she is called to stand where I stood 
with that large family bearing upon me. 

One and another dropped down, until thirty-four were 
sick at one time, while equally as many were just able 
to creep around, having almost to force themselves from 
bed and room. Pupil waited upon pupil, teacher upon 
teacher, while every room was turned into a hospital. 
The worst cases were carried to the one room designated 
by that name, where Miss Wilson nursed them night 
and day. She herself kept up by almost superhuman 
effort, and was among the last to give up to the enemy. 
The doctor coming in, in his quiet, brisk way, would 
say, "Not down yet?" Laughingly she would answer, 
"No time, doctor." Mrs. Anderson kept at her post; 
many a delicacy prepared by her faithful hands found 
its way to the sick room. Earnest teachers forced 
themselves to the schoolroom, " in order that we might 
not become entirely disorganized." Many scenes both dis- 
tressing and amusing were of daily occurrence. One of 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



147 



our Lupes, sister of the twins, probably the only one who 
escaped, was determined that she would have la grippe. 
Three times she volunteered to take oil. We had no time 




" Sister of the Twins. 



to spend on those who were not surely sick; we had to 
pass Lupe by, though, with a stamp of her little foot, 
she would cry, " I know I have got it!- " 

One night Miss Wilson called me: "Come quickly; I 



148 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

believe Willie is dead, or dying!" I ran to the 'phone 
to call the doctor, then to the hospital, to find wee Wil- 
lie in Miss Wilson's arms. The breaking of the fever 
had left him prostrate. By the time the doctor arrived 
he was reviving. Another time Ida was in wild delir- 
ium ; three days and nights the fever burned. Either 
Dr. Arthur or Dr. Turpin was with her constantly, 
while the faithful missionary never left her side. 

Some who have come to help us have gone away dis- 
satisfied, because " mission work is not all Bible reading 
and visiting from house to house." We missionaries, 
with our crowded homes, well know that part of the 
work is easiest of all. 

Before this fearful time of which I write, a friend in 
San Antonio, Mr. McG-ehee, had given us two beautiful 
Holsteins, "Victoria" and "Zipporah." They, with 
" Colorado," mentioned before, supplied the milk for the 
sufferers, who for days could take no other nourishment. 
We never appreciated the gift half so much as in this 
time of need. We kept them for several years, then sold 
them, because I was in constant anxiety about having 
no one to give them proper care. They were such little 
beauties and so gentle that they had become favorites 
with the entire family. I was careful to sell them to a 
friend ; when it became known that they were gone, there 
arose such an outcry that I had to send a servant post- 
haste to see if it would not be just as well to reconsider 
the matter. Our friend was much amused at my indeci- 
sion, but finally we let them go. I think my sister's 
fondness for them was due to their beauty, and to the 
pretty, homelike picture they made browsing with " Col- 
orado " on the grounds. They had a true missionary 
spirit, and were content with the Bermuda, while "Col- 
orado," if allowed the least liberty, showed a decided 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 149 

preference for the clumps of bananas which sister had 
grouped artistically over the lawn. 

One of our improvements this year in the way of 
building was a brick stable for our three cows and 
"Sheldon," our buggy horse, the gift of Edith's father to 
sister. When Miss Annie Maria Barnes visited us, she 
would have "Sheldon's" picture, because he was the 
first real, live missionary horse she had ever seen. He 
was on his good behavior while she was with us, and 
carried us willingly wherever we chose to go. Writing 
of " Sheldon " brings to mind not only Edith but the 
whole of her class, a grade of between twenty-five and 
thirty boys and girls, principally girls. Sister had 
taught many of them for several years, and now had 
them in the fifth or sixth grade. Nearly all who saw 
them spoke of them as the prettiest and brightest group 
of children they had ever known. Not only were the'r 
bright faces attractive, but I do not remember ever hav- 
ing seen so large a number of children together whose 
names were so remarkable for euphony. There were 
the Saxons, Saida, Edith, Jessie, G-uy, Clemmie, and the 
more beautiful Castilians, Lola, Genaro, Micaila, Jose, 
Florinda, Bernarda, and others that I cannot recall. 
Dr. W. B. Palmore, of the St. Louis Advocate, was par- 
ticularly attracted toward them. Nearly every place 
he mentioned as having visited in his extensive travels 
could instantly be pointed out by some member of the 
class. He was much amused when he finally succeeded 
in puzzling them, but instantly gained their interest by 
telling them of the "midnight sun," which he had braved 
the tempestuous deep to see. This " friend of Missions " 
gave us one delightful day. Our children — so many of 
them now — claimed him as their own guest, morning, 
noon, and evening. Really, we had to confess to some 



150 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

secret mortification, as they threw aside all restraint, 
and literally swarmed around him. As he saw them com- 
ing, he laughingly cried, "The place is full of them!" 
But he did not know which was the attraction, he or his 
camera. He left us at the close of the day, and carried 
with him, as he said, the most beautiful Marechal Niel 
he had ever seen, and one which with our permission he 
would send to his friend, Mrs. Nathan Scarritt. 

After our siege of la grippe, which lasted over two 
months, we went to work with all the energy our re- 
maining strength would allow. Miss Toland and Mrs. 
Anderson were among those who had escaped. It has 
always been a question in my mind which were most 
deserving of our sympathy — the sick, or those who were 
burdened with their care. It has long been a standing 
joke in our home that I felt in duty bound to sample all 
diseases. When la grippe first reached our family, I 
was in Saltillo, where I had had quite a severe attack of 
it. I got home during the first weeks of the siege; all 
laughingly dared me to have it again, saying that " once 
was enough," and there would be nobody to wait on me. 
I went forward quite hopefully for awhile, feeling cer- 
tain of escape, then succumbed, as the rest had done, 
giving as my excuse that I was sure Laredo grippe prom- 
ised some virtue unknown to that of Saltillo. Yet, with 
all this distress, we passed through the school term with 
some showing of good work at the close. 

At our annual meeting of missionaries in December, 
which was held in Faith Hall, we had discussed the ne- 
cessity of extension of work. I had long been wanting 
a day school in Laredo, and also woman's work, but up 
to this year we had been too few in numbers. The rapid 
growth at the seminary, and almost equally marvelous 
advancement of the Saltillo work, had kept every hand 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



151 



employed. We now had two missionaries at Saltillo, 
five at Laredo, besides well-trained helpers. The work 
at Durango, though under the auspices of the Woman's 
Board, was not yet fully organized. 




Mrs. McClention. 



I talked with brother A. H. Sutherland of the great 
need of a day school in the city of Laredo. The chil- 
dren of our Church required special attention. He pro- 



152 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

posed to let us open such a school in the frame building 
which the General Board owned and used as a church. 
I gladly accepted the proposition, and lost no time in 
putting it before our Board, recommending Mrs. Mc- 
Clendon as missionary in charge She had her family 
for protection, which would do away with the necessity 
of an extra helper until the growth of the work should 
demand it. The day school was opened in August of 
this year. From the first day it has been a full school, 
and many times since an overflowing one. After a short 
while, Lucia became a helper in this branch of the work, 
and continued in it until her marriage. The first few 
months, as in all new enterprises, were months of trial. 
No suitable home could be found near the school for the 
missionary and her family. I have told you something 
of Laredo sun and sand. There had been no improve- 
ment in these during the passing years. Mrs. McClen- 
don found them sometimes almost insurmountable bar- 
riers to energetic labor and continued interest, not on 
the part of the missionary, but to those for whom she 
worked. She had to walk a number of blocks twice a 
day, and return. She often said to me: ' : I do not mind 
that so much, but when I reach the school and find it 
all crowded into that little frame building, which is so 
intensely hot, the children so poor that they cannot be 
kept decently clean, and nothing but barrel water for them 
to drink, I sometimes feel my courage giving way." I 
-comforted her by the assurance that a home would 
probably soon be obtainable, and, it might be, a better 
room for the school secured. But she, as most mission- 
aries, dwelt little on these minor things. She, too, soon 
had children so remarkable for brightness, beauty, and in- 
telligence that we at the seminary had a little feeling of 
uneasiness for fear ours would fall short in comparison. 



154 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

' Early in the spring of this year I received orders to 
visit San Luis Potosi again, report the outlook, and make 
estimates on property. Brother and sister Norwood met 
me with their usual cordiality, promising every assist- 
ance in their power toward the purchase of suitable 
property. The day after my arrival our search began. 
Here, as in Saltillo, many obstacles presented themselves 
from the beginning. Buildings were too large, and 
prices enormous. A block of land on the outskirts of 
the city was beautifully situated; there was no building 
upon it; could be bought for a reasonable sum; there 
would be plenty of room, and we could build as we 
needed. I said: "If we can do no better, we will con- 
sider this, though I think it is too far out for a day 
school, and our plan has come to be recognized as four 
departments of work in one compound, under one head." 
Then there was an old meson on a fine lot, an abun- 
dance of old adobe which could be made over; we might 
be able to get a good title, etc. Day after day we vis- 
ited various places — houses, gardens, blocks of land. 
With some misgiving, I finally decided that I would put 
two places before our secretary for selection ; so getting 
estimates upon them, I turned my face homeward, stop- 
ping a day at Saltillo. 

Miss Tydings's music class had grown so that another 
piano was an absolute necessity. I think it was in this 
year that the Florida Conference, listening to her appeal, 
sent her a fine instrument. Miss Roberts was beginning 
to beg for more room. 1 said: " You are very long, you 
know." " Yes," she replied, "and I will just have to run 
back." I had been at home only time enough for Mrs. 
McGravock to receive estimates and plans, and reply T 
when a sorrowful little note came from her, saying that 
there had been " a prospect of entering San Luis, but 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 155 

the estimates were too large to be considered." I saw that 
there was nothing to be done but retrace my steps. The 
barest prospect of opening work in San Luis Potosi was 
worth weeks and months of effort to find suitable prop- 
erty. 

Again the kindness of the Norwoods was called into 
service. One day Mrs. Norwood said : " There is that 
property we thought suitable for the Eosebud school, 
but a garden has been purchased instead; that might 
answer, but there is one difficulty." " What is that? " I 
quickly asked. "Brothers Grimes and Winton intend 
to put it before the General Board as a suitable place 
for building a church," was the reply. "Let us visit it 
at once," I said. Mrs. Norwood favored this proposi- 
tion, but Mr. Norwood thought it useless, because of the 
intention of our brethren ; besides, the Eosebuds would 
occupy it until they could move to their garden. 

There was also another place that we had not seen. 
The " other place " was visited, but as usual there was 
an objection. Then I said again: "Let us see the house 
which the brethren expect to persuade their Board to 
take." This time brother Norwood consented, saying 
as he did so, " It is but a moment's walk from this 
plaza." The building in question was soon reached, and, 
as I was told, was a portion of the old San Francisco 
convent, through which the present street had been cut, 
in those days when Mexico had determined to break the 
chain which held her in a bondage a thousand-fold worse 
than African slavery. What wonderful builders were 
these old Franciscan monks! What a massive structure 
this must have been! The street, which had been a 
portion of the monastery, was very broad, far exceeding 
the usual width of Mexican streets, and on each side of 
it was a long line of buildings which had been a part of 



156 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



the same ancient convent. These were now fitted up 
for different purposes; some were dwellings, some were 
shops. The electric light works occupied a large por- 




Miss Toland. 



tion; then there was a flour mill; the Presbyterians had 
secured a part of it for school purposes, and still had 
room for the building of a new church. The portion in 
which 1 was most interested was on the corner facing 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 157 

an open square. It was being put in repair by a Ger- 
man firm. Miss Duval would take possession of it as 
soon as finished, and did not know just how long she 
would occupy it. I took in the whole situation: the 
home would be fresh, and it was sufficiently large for a 
beginning; there were three patios, and two street en 
trances. I said to Mrs. Norwood: "This is what we 
want." "But you cannot g<.t it," put in Mr. Norwood. 
Mr. Winton was just a block away, occupying, with the 
theological school, the old building owned by the Wom- 
an's Board some years before, now the property of the 
General Board. It took but a moment to ask if he 
would waive his claim to the building. " Well," he said, 
" we had set our hearts upon it; but if brother Grimes is 
willing, I have nothing to s:iy." At this time the last- 
named brother was in the City of Mexico. I wrote him, 
asking the same favor. The answer came in due time: 
" We had wanted it very much for a church, but if your 
Board will establish such a school as those already in 
operation, I yield all claim." Miss Duval was compelled 
to occupy it according to contract, but promised to va- 
cate at the earliest possible date. With estimates and 
plans, I again returned to Laredo, feeling sure that another 
school home was soon to be established in our adopted 
country. My joy was tempered by a feeling of sadness, 
for I knew that to occupy so important a field as this 
meant taking away from Laredo my long tried and 
efficient coworker, Miss Toland, who had helped to 
make the seminary what it had come to be. 

Notwithstanding the severe trial of sickness, we closed 
a prosperous term with a full public day, and a beauti- 
ful concert under Professor Koch's skillful management. 
The vacation work was planned. .Leaving my sister in 
charge, with dear Mrs. Anderson and our little Scotch 



158 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



r 



fcStfc S P* 



Will and Waller Winton. 



missionary, Miss Lizzie Wilson, as ready helpers, I was 
soon on my way to San Luis Potosi. 

As Miss Toland was to be farther removed from her 
home, she spent the vacation with her mother. 

Though the 
house in San 
Luis had been 
put under con- 
siderable repair, 
there was still 
much to be done 
on it, and there 
were the titles 
to be secured, 
which business 
was delayed by 
the absence of 
the head of the 
firm in Ger- 
many. By this 
time Miss Duval 
had possession 
of the house. 

Three mission- 
ary homes were 
k i n dly offered 
me. I gladly ac- 
cepted the hos- 
pitality of each for a few days, but the important writ- 
ing which 1 always had on hand compelled me to have 
a settled home. I asked Miss Duval if she would board 
me during the weeks or months, as the case might be, 
until the business upon which I had come should be set- 
tled. She graciously consented; yet I have never been 




IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 159 

able to this day to tell whether I was a boarder, a vis- 
itor, or at home. Miss Duval had a way of making the 
accounts come out in rny favor upon the plea that at 
such and such a time I was visiting. The weeks I spent 
with her in the home which was to be ours form one of 
the pleasant memories of that waiting time, which was 
not all waiting. 

There was a pleasant circle of missionaries in San 
Luis at that time. In fact, it is a favorite center, and 
we usually find more missionaries and more Americans 
there than in any other city of the republic, excepting 
in Mexico itself. Most of these of whom 1 write are 
scattered now. Our dear friends, the Norwoods, are in 
South America. Their only child, Marvin, was for a 
short time one of our favorite pupils at Laredo. The 
Bealls, the Presbyterian missionaries, returned to the 
United States, but not before they had been called upon 
to render unto the Giver one dear boy whose lifeless 
form rests in the desolate Saucito, where sleeps also the 
gentle, sweet-spirited Mrs. Grimes. Of that pleasant 
circle, the Wintons only remain in San Luis. 

One evening while with the Wintons, I was left alone; 
the two boys, Will and Walter, were playing in the sec- 
ond story out on the unfinished corridors. There had 
l)een hope of adding other rooms, but so far this had 
not been done. More than half of this upper story 
formed the only playground these two little missionary 
boys had. A wall of about two feet in height separated 
the corridor from the rooms which were to be. On this 
wall, round and round went the two playing " cars." 
Orowing tired of the desk, I joined the children in their 
play. It was, with one exception, the most accommo- 
dating train that I had ever known. In the long ago, 
my little cousin Harry had taken me many an imagi- 



160 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



nary journey, the train being the rocker in which I sat 
and read, while the little engine and conductor, all in 
one, made the journey, called out the stations, and took 




Miss Mason. 

me where he pleased. Will and Walter asked me to 
suggest the places I should like to visit. China, Japan, 
California, Kentucky, each was alike accessible. Walter 
thought I might as well as not mount the wall, but to 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



161 



this I objected. Suddenly Will looked up at me and 
said, "How many children have you?" "Oh," I said, 
" I don't know ; something over a hundred." He stopped 




Eloisa and Maria Palacios. 

his play, and with wide-eyed amazement gazed at me, 
then came slowly: "How do you get 'em to the table? 
Ain't they lots of trouble? " Some years afterwards Will 
had the pleasure of seeing how they got to the table. 
11 



162 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

Miss Toland came down before I left San Luis. Sister 
was with her for company, until Miss Mason, the little 
Kentucky girl, could join her with our Eloisa. 

We were not ready to give Eloisa up, but her parents 
thought she " had been to school long enough; " that she 
should be ready to help them some. Eloisa was not 
willing to take anything for her services the first year, 
saying: "I can never pay you for what you have done 
for me." But we thought it best for her to accept the 
amount appropriated for a native teacher. She gave one 
year and a half of faithful service, then returned to her 
home, where she is the comfort and stay of the family. 

I left Miss Toland in her new home in this beautiful 
city upon its airy height of six thousand feet, and has- 
tened to Laredo to prepare for the opening of school. 

Miss Harper, from Georgetown, Texas, came to reen- 
force me this year. I gave her the boys. Under her 
efficient management and hearty interest that depart- 
ment soon gave evidence of advance all along the line. 
She believed in laying sure foundations upon which to 
build character. She came before vacation was fairly 
over, and found only one little blue-eyed, flaxen-haired 
boy, Gussie, to go with her to the long dormitory, where, 
as she has often said, she won many a hard-fought bat- 
tle for right and truth. 

A pleasant break in the routine of the year was a 
visit from Bishop Galloway and his little wife. The 
bishop complimented our children by saying that he 
liked to preach to them, they were such good listeners. 
Mrs. Galloway had only words of love and affection for 
us, and they both endeared themselves to us by saying: 
" We should be glad to have our daughter work with 
you." I believe it was near the same time that we had 
a visit of only a few hours from Bishop Hargrove. He 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



163 



had been summoned by telegram to attend to important 
business connected with property of the Board. 

Among the 
helpers who had 
been with me 
through the 
year, preparing 
for Mission 
work, was Miss 
Mattie Dorsey. 
She assisted in 
school work, and 
had also the care 
of a number of 
little tots, of 
whom she was 
very fond. One 
of these was 
Amelia, an only 
child, her moth- 
er dead and she 
the idol of her 
father. It is the 
custom of those 
for whom we 
labor to place 
their children in 
school at an early age; therefore, it is not surprising 
that we should have a large number of little folks. In 
this instance, the father desired the child to learn Eng- 
lish, but did not care to have her confined to the school- 
room. Miss Dorsey was immediately attracted to the 
shy little baby. Naturally she was very homesick, as 
she had never known anything but the freedom of her 




Amelia Dall. 



164 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



father's house. The trunk that she brought was a large 
Saratoga, filled to the utmost with exquisitely made cloth- 
ing. The little one's chief pleasure was in putting on and 




Miss Turner. 



taking off her pretty dresses. It would not be safe to 
say how many times a day Miss Dorsey gratified Ame- 
lia's whim. She was so sweet and quaint, no wonder 
Miss Dorsey loved her. I should like to have her pic- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 165 

ture as she appeared one Sunday, with a dress of pure 
white which fell in soft folds around her dainty form. 
It was almost as if we looked upon a real fairy who had 
stepped into our midst from out of " fairy land." She 
soon became much attached to Lupe, our " child of love." 
Every Monday morning still she must know by telephone 
that Lupe is at the seminary, or she will not come. 

Miss Dorsey was appointed this year to assist in the 
work at Chihuahua. Dr. Palmore had made it possible, 
by his munificent gift, for our Board to purchase the 
property secured by Rev. S. G. Kilgore, which we had 
seen in 1888, and recommended to the Board. There 
was no building upon the lot except an old adobe house 
which by repairing and freshening up might be used as 
a schoolroom. We were willing to begin almost any way 
in order to get a foothold. Miss A. V. "Wilson and Miss 
Gilbert were appointed as missionaries and Miss Arring- 
ton and Miss Dorsey as helpers. They had a home in 
the pleasant parsonage, in the family of brother Kil- 
gore, during the first months of getting ready. Miss 
Gilbert was to return from the year's rest to Laredo, 
and remain until the little portable cottage could be 
shipped and put in place. This was to serve as a tem- 
porary home for the missionaries. There was no appro- 
priation for building at Chihuahua this year. Buying 
property in San Luis and sending us three new mis- 
sionaries, we considered liberal work on the part of the 
Board for our beloved Mexico. Miss Turner, of Ken- 
tucky, and Miss Fannin, of Florida, were appointed dur- 
ing this year, the one to San Luis, the other to Saltillo. 

Surely it was a year over which glad praises should be 
sung: the gathering in of the rich, golden harvest; new 
homes; new missionaries; other waves fresh and strong 
set in motion. Who may place their boundary lines? 



CHAPTER VIII. 

1890-1891. 

CHARTER — FIRST GRADUATES — WOMAN'S WORK — QUARANTINE — DU- 
RANGO PROPERTY — NUEVO LAREDO DAY SCHOOL — CHRISTMAS. 

"There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh 
thy dwelling" 

AS the last days of the " harvest year " glided silent- 
ly into the past, [ paused for a moment to recall 
the lessons which its trials had taught me. Weary in body, 
but strengthened in spirit, I turned to welcome the swift 
incoming year. What it bore for us on its heavily laden 
pinions, I did not know. Many times we had passed 
through deep waters, and ever found the " promise " 
steadfast; surely we had nothing to fear. It would have 
been my pleasure to have lingered between these two, 
the outgoing and the incoming years, but there is no 
time for rest mid the cares of a Mission home. It may 
have been sister who interrupted me in my reverie with 
her plans for teachers and classes; Doroteo, to tell me 
the windmill was broken and the tanks nearly empty; 
or was it the teacher who kept the book department, 
coming with a long list that meant also a big sum of 
money? or parents with children to enter? It may have 
been one, or two, or three of these at a time, each one's 
necessities pressing; or it may have been Miss Harper, 
wearing that air which said, " Business, no time to lose," 
to consult me about Genaro's broken arm that had caused 
him a night of pain and wakefulness, or to plan for the 
charter. Our active, full-of-life missionary was too re- 
cently a new comer to feel any touches of the evil which 
our good doctor had prophesied would befall me. It 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



167 



was in those days when I, too, was a "new comer." i 
had been lamenting to the doctor the lack of ambition 
and energy which I had noticed on the border, espe- 




Lillian Mielke. 



eially the listlessness of our children. Laughingly, he 
turned to me and said : " I give you just two years to be- 
come as lazy as the rest of us." With indignation, I re- 
plied, "Never, Doctor, never!" There is at least one 



168 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



thing of which I am certain: I have never come to the 
point of acknowledging the fulfillment of his prophecy, 
though I am conscious of desiring to move more slowly 
and am more apt to say to others, " You need not hurry." 




Violet Sielsk 



Mention of the charter brings to mind its history. 
The necessity for it arose from the inclination of Mexi- 
can girls to leave school about their sixteenth year. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



169 



We thought the hope of earning a diploma would prove 
a strong incentive to hold them to the completion of a 
course of study. It has been in a measure as we ex- 




Mary Summerton. 

pected, and we trust that the time will come when Mex- 
ican young womanhood shall hold Christian education 
.as the greatest earthly prize. 

Money was needed to secure the charter. The Sunday 



170 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

school undertook to raise that. Angela, Sofia, Catalina r 
and many another faithful little girl, pulled weeds at five 
cents a bucket to meet her subscription, and then how 
proud we all were of the charter! The seal is equally 
dear to us. It was designed by Professor Koch and 
Miss Harper, and bears a part of our motto. The de- 
signers put on the text from memory, not dreaming of a 
chance of misquoting, when Maria Herrera, coming by, 
said, " Oh ! the text is wrong! " and thus saved our beau- 
tiful seal from being a disappointment and a loss. 

The first graduating class was small, only three of 
the advanced grade of the year before having returned 
to us: Lillian Mielke, Violet Sielski, and Mary Summer- 
ton. They were not Mexicans, but the names of two 
show a mingling of foreign blood. 

I think I may safely say that in this Mexican work 
we have touched the children of almost every clime un- 
der the sun. In this small graduating class we trace the 
blood of the downtrodden Pole, whose oppression has 
touched the heart of a sympathizing world ; in the veins 
of another flows the blood of imperial Germany, while 
the name of the third shows that she claims as her " ain 
countrie " America's free soil. I might tell of the child 
of whose ancestor the words were spoken, " His hand 
will be against every man, and every man's hand against 
him." Beneath our own roof, stern, cold, despotic Rus- 
sia has learned to speak in gentle tones; while sunny 
Italy has asked in slow wonder, " Why the need of such 
busy rush?" Judea's beautiful daughters have turned 
away in calm indifference as we in hushed tones breathed 
their Messiah's name; liberty-loving Sweden and her 
twin sister, Norway, have given us children with com- 
plexion as purely white as their own eternal snows, with 
eyes as blue as Mexico's azure skies; proud, conquering 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



171 



England's daughter and Scotland's "bonnie lassie" have 
loved and studied in our halls; Ireland's witty lad and 
the sparkling beauty of " la Francia " have forgotten 
both wit and beauty in the rivalry for the head of the 
class. Distant Persia and the isles of the sea have been 
glad to claim the 
advantages our 
schools are able 
to oifer. 

Though only 
three, we were 
proud of our fair 
young gradu- 
ates. Miss Gil- 
bert had taught 
them during the 
first part of the 
year. When she 
left they fell into 
the hands of 
Miss Kelley, of 
Texas, who 
brought them 
safely to the all- 
important day. 
The baccalaure- 
ate sermon was 
preached by Rev. C. J. Oxley, who used the seminary 
motto as his text: "Wisdom is the principal thing; 
therefore, get wisdom; and with all thy getting, get 
understanding." A word for the young girls. Miss 
Mielke, with her fine talent for music, went at once to 
take charge of the music class in the new mission at San 
Luis Potosi, where she remained for some time, then re- 




iss Kelley. 



172 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

turned to her own home, and entered public school work. 
Miss Sielski taught in public schools until her marriage. 
Miss Summerton is assisting Miss Kelley in the Mission 
school at Nogales, Arizona, under the General Board. 
We are glad to know that few who go out from us are 
content to be idle. 

In. November of this year we organized another 
branch of work — the Woman's Class. Our friend, Dr. 
B. G. Atlee, offered us a room free of rent; the seminary 
furnished tables, chairs, sewing machine, several bolts 
of calico and domestic. With these, the Word of God 
in hand and a prayer in the heart, another "wave was 
set in motion." I felt that this was to become one of 
the most important branches of the Mission work. For 
years we had longed to do something for the mothers 
of our children; but the little ones filled our hands and 
took our strength; we were so few, and no one came. 
Then, as soon as missionaries and helpers began to come, 
their time was taken by the work at the seminary, or 
they were sent on to the rapidly increasing school at 
Saltillo. Now the forces were scattered and the field 
broadened, and we were again few at the seminary, and 
none to spare for the new work. Still the need of the 
women pressed upon me. Night and day they were in 
my thoughts. I recognized in our little Scotch mis- 
sionary qualities which showed her eminently fitted for 
this work; besides, the indispensable knowledge of cut- 
ting, fitting, and sewing was in her possession. But just 
now how could she be spared? There was the hospital 
work, the care of the little tots, sewing classes, sent out 
from school at regular intervals, besides a multitude of 
minor duties. No, it must not be thought of. But it 
would not down; it kept making itself heard, until one 
day I told it all out to sister — my desire to organize the 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 173 

Woman's Class, and Miss Wilson's fitness to take charge 
of it. Her first words were: "Miss Wilson already has 
too much to do." "Yes," I said; "yet, if we could only 
make a beginning, I know some way would open to car- 
ry it on; and I believe the Board would support it as 
soon as the need for it is known." It ended by my talk- 
ing it over with the little Scotchwoman herself, whose 
first exclamation of " Why, that is just what I want, 
Miss Holding! " caused another burden to roll away. I 
went with her for awhile, then gave it up entirely into 
her competent hands. I remember one afternoon, "a 
stiff norther" was blowing; we discussed the propriety 
of staying at home; then we thought of the thinly clad 
women who would be at the class to meet us; and, wrap- 
ping our heaviest cloaks about us, we dared brave the 
" wintry blast." We were soon busily engaged in help- 
ing those mothers provide warmer clothing for the little 
ones whom they had brought with them, setting aside 
with a mother's forgetfulness their own need. As I 
leaned over Dona Felipa to give some instruction as to 
the garment she was making, she reached out her hand 
and touched my heavy cloak, saying in a whisper as she 
did so: " Oh, so warm! " Tears sprang to my eyes as I 
turned away. Tears come to my eyes as I write of that 
winter's afternoon, and see again Dona Felipa. 

It was also in November of this year that Miss Har- 
per, Mrs. McClendon, and I met the women of the sew- 
ing class one Sunday afternoon, at the house of Her- 
mana Nicolasa, and organized a missionary society. 
Large and small, babies and all, had to have their names 
enrolled. Of course the babies only cooed and laughed, 
as the mothers said, " Put down the name of the baby." 
Hermana Nicolasa had a large family of children and 
grandchildren; she was not content till every name was 



174 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



added to the list; and better still, not satisfied until every 
little one had paid its centavo. For three years this aux- 
iliary has never failed to have its monthly meetings, or 




Miss Lizzie Wilson. 



pay its dues. We missionaries have often gone to it 
weary in body, but have never failed to be strengthened, 
and to come away refreshed in spirit. We never saw 
these women, as they gave smilingly their hard-earned 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 175 

dues, but we felt reproached. We have talked of this 
with each other, and with tears have determined to 
serve better. They never knew that they were teach- 
ing us a lesson. 

Early in the fall of this year we were startled by the 
rumor, "The smallpox is in town!" We felt uneasy, 
for our family was very large, and we had quite a num- 
ber of day pupils, besides the weekly coming and going 
of numerous visitors. Dr. Arthur, ever on the alert for 
the welfare of our family, telephoned that he would be 
out at a certain time to vaccinate all who needed it. 
When he came, he quieted our fears by saying that there 
was no special need for alarm, but it was well to be pre- 
pared; that there was only a case or two, which might 
be the last of it. Weeks passed. Again we were star- 
tled : " Smallpox on the increase! " We tried to hold the 
children more closely, made fewer trips to town, scruti- 
nized visitors, and cautioned Miss Wilson about tie 
woman's work. Our great fear was for Mrs. McClen- 
don and family. Her school was crowded with children 
from the class of people among whom the disease was 
most prevalent. I went at once to her, to advise closing 
the school if matters grew worse, or at any moment she 
thought necessary. She assured me that she was not 
the least bit afraid, and would be careful. She was so 
proud and happy over her large school. I saw that it 
would take more than smallpox to dampen her ardor. 

The Christmas time came on. Patrons flocked in for 
their children ; there was no way to hold them. I told 
of my fear. Some laughed, and said there was no dan- 
ger; others promised to be careful. A day or two found 
our family widely scattered, only those remaining who 
were from a distance, and the children upon whom we 
had a claim. 



176 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

The new helpers we had this year were the Childers 
sisters and Mrs. Barker. Miss Lula Childers had come 
out as a volunteer. She was soon a great favorite with 
all; she was so ready to help everywhere, while her 
beautiful voice added much to the interest of the Sun- 
day-school and church services. We were very fond of 
her, and she was devoted to our work. Mrs. Barker, the 
art teacher, had a way of inspiriting her pupils, causing 
them to work as if they thought the learning of art in 
all of its branches was the chief end of existence. These 
mentioned, with Miss Dillard, Miss Jones, of Texas, Miss 
Kelley, Mrs. Anderson, Professor Koch, sister, and our 
missionaries, formed our working force for the year. 

Among the pupils from a distance were two from the 
City of Mexico, Helen and Lizzie, or Maria, as she pre- 
ferred her Mexican name, the daughter of our mission- 
aries, Mr. and Mrs. Watkins. Of course, rumors of the 
epidemic had reached the parents and friends of those 
who remained over during Christmas week. Maria was 
so interested in music, art, and mathematics that she 
would not listen to the idea of returning home. Helen 
was satisfied, and would not leave unless Maria went. So 
matters stood when the school regathered after the holi- 
days. 

Some days passed; we came to a Sabbath morning; 
Faith Hall was filled; preliminary exercises finished; 
the secretary had called classes; some had passed to the 
rooms below; others had taken their accustomed places 
in the chapel; my class of young ladies had drawn near 
the rostrum; I stood for a moment waiting for all to 
settle down to work before taking up my duties. Turn- 
ing with a sudden impulse, I glanced at my class and 
noticed a young girl, who had been complaining for a 
few days, but not sick enough for special attention. 



in Mexican Mission homes. 17f 

Without stopping to think, or realize what I did, or 
why I did it, I stepped quickly to her side, and lift- 
ing the black rebozo from her shoulders, threw it lightly 
over her head, and spoke aloud: "Come, my child, yout 
are not well enough to be here." I put my hand upon* 
her arm and passed rapidly from the hall. Getting her* 
into her room, a large dormitory occupied by thirty chil- 
dren, I called the doctor to come without delay. Find- 
ing sister, I told her my fears, then sent word to Miss 
Harper to hold the school, teachers and all, until I should 
send word for dismissal; then I waited. The moments 
seemed like hours, yet I knew the doctor would hurry. 
I thought of the crowded hall of restless children and 
the tired teachers. I felt sure that they would begin to 
have suspicion of something wrong, and I feared the 
wild panic which would ensue as soon as the truth 
should be known. By the time the doctor reached us, 
I had already telephoned to the child's friends in Nuevo 
Laredo, feeling that I was not mistaken. The doctor 
pronounced it the dreaded disease. He would have 
moved her at once to the pesthouse, but we waited for 
her friends. 

At last she was safely out of the house, in the care 
of her own family. Then followed such a scene of dis- 
infecting, as we had never seen before. Having done 
what we could to protect the household, we gave the 
word for dismissal. Already fretting and pouting had 
begun, because " we don't see why we have to stay here 
so long," though Miss Harper had used every device of 
her active brain to entertain them. As soon as possible 
I made the circumstances known, giving to anyone who 
desired permission to leave; teachers were released from 
their engagements, and pupils sent home or their par- 
ents telegraphed. I knew that we would be placed un- 
12 



178 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

der strict quarantine, and no one be allowed to go or 
come. Our gates would be locked in twenty-four hours; 
therefore, those who went must decide at once. 

The news flew, gathering force as it went, " Smallpox 
at the seminary! " Parents and friends flocked to our 
doors. Learning the truth, and knowing that we were 
to be placed under strict quarantine in a few hours, 
many of them reasoned : " Our children are as safe here 
as with us." Others, fearing that the quarantine might 
be long, removed their boys and girls. 

Three of the teachers, the Childers sisters, and Miss 
Jones, of Texas, decided to run no risk, and left on the 
next train. We were sorry to see them go, but felt our 
responsibility lessened with everyone who left. 

Our family was reduced to about one hundred. After 
a day or two of restlessness, we settled down to work, 
accepting the new order of things. 

We have often looked back upon those three months, 
calling our labors "the quarantine work," and consider- 
ing it the best we have ever done; for, being shut in, 
the whole thought of the school centered on the accom- 
plishment of the work at hand. 

Mrs. McClendon went bravely forward, having to close 
her school only two weeks, and that because the author- 
ities insisted on it; they having some time before closed 
the public schools. 

Of course the Woman's Work was out of the question. 

A number of our pupils showed symptoms of the dis- 
ease, but were so quickly removed that there were no 
more sensations until one morning some one called me 
to see "Susie." She professed to be "not the least bit 
sick." But there were thone suspicious-looking "bumps." 
The child was too far from home to think of sending her 
there; the pesthouse was not once to be thought of. Our 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



179 



small frame building served us well in this time of need. 
Susie was soon isolated with competent nurses. It was 
a sad moment when we saw the door close upon her, 
and I knew it was for weeks. 




Miss Lucy C. Harper. 

This time I advised Maria and Helen to wait no 
longer, and I saw two more dear girls pass out from the 
home where they had lingered so lovingly. 

The scourge was so fearful in the city we felt that in 
truth " no evil had befallen us," and that no plague had 
touched our dwelling. Everyone spoke of our marvel- 
ous escape. 



180 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

Some amusing incidents of this " shut-in " season 
occur to me. One Sunday morning, just after Sunday 
school, Miss Harper waited to speak to the members of 
her class, thinking the ten minutes between the dismissal 
of the Sunday school and the ringing of the dinner bell 
would not give the boys time to get into mischief. With 
this thought, she finished the interview. On reaching 
the boys' building, she found all comparatively quiet. 
Later on, having occasion to go to the bathroom, she 
noticed a slender pole which had not been there before. 
A suspicion of something wrong flashed across her. 
Raising the lid of a trunk, she saw a flag stowed away 
for safe-keeping. Instantly putting pole and flag to- 
gether, she took in the situation, but could not help won- 
dering when and how the boys had captured it. Wait- 
ing her opportunity, she said: " Boys, the first thing for 
you to do is to go with me and return the Jarvis flag. 
I don't know which one is to blame, and don't ask. 1 
only know you will all go with me, and we will tell Mrs. 
Jarvis that you took it; but there's one thing I would 
like to know, when did you take it? " In some conster- 
nation, one of them instantly replied: "We took it after 
Sunday school, before the Jarvis boys got home from 
church. They have been poking fun at us, and we 
wanted to pay them back." The Jarvis family were our 
nearest neighbors. The Professor saw Miss Harper as 
she was marching her forces over, and stopped to in- 
quire the cause. Upon hearing the story, he burst out 
laughing, and said: "It is too bad for those boys to be 
pent up so long. If you say so, 1 will give them a daily 
drill." So it was settled, and from this little happening 
grew our military department. 

The school was like a family in those days of quaran- 
tine. Children and teachers alike leaned upon each other 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 181 

in loving confidence, and there were many quiet times 
of thinking about right and wrong. One of the smaller 
boys, our bright, earnest Eeid, said seriously one day: 
" Miss Harper, is it a sin to drink beer? " She answered: 
"Yes, it is wrong for men and women; and if boys drink 
it, they can't make fine, good men." Waiting a moment, 
as if in meditation, he said : " But if there was a mug 
full, and nobody to drink it, and it was already paid for, 
would it be wrong? " 

Some time during this winter I was called to Mexico. 
Miss Wilson, not being able to go forward with the 
Woman's Work, offered to accompany me. Up to this 
time there had been no provision made for Durango in 
the way of a permanent home. Time and time again I 
had essayed to go, but always with like result. 'No one 
who had ever taken the journey would advise me to try 
it. Without discussing the question to any great extent, 
I secretly determined to watch my opportunity. I knew 
that sister was somewhat suspicious of my movements, 
for I insisted upon taking with me a large lunch bas- 
ket, blanket and pillow, and warmer clothing. She kept 
saying, "You will not need all these," till finally, turn- 
ing to me, she said: "Sister, promise me you will not 
go to Durango." Laughing, I said: "What made you 
think of Durango? You know I am going to Chihuahua, 
which makes the trip a long one. Miss Wilson will be 
with me, and we will need the large basket." But she 
was not to be put off, and persistingly insisted that I 
should promise her. Growing serious, I said: "Would 
you keep me if it were my duty to go?" " No," she re- 
plied; "but the trip is so long, and it is over the moun- 
tains." I assured her that if I should be tempted to go I 
would take every precaution for comfort and safety, and 
would tell her before undertaking the journey. 



182 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE. 

Throughout the field estimates for the coming year 
had to be considered. Our first visit was to Saltillo. 
Miss Roberts and Miss Tydings were busy, expecting to 
open the spring term within a few days. Miss Fannin, 




Misses Viva Penn and K. P. Fannin. 

the new missionary from Florida, was at Laredo. She 
had shown such fondness for drawing and crayon that 
we had advised her to take advantage of Mrs. Barker's 
superior knowledge, and study oil painting also. We 
hoped to make art one of the attractive features at Sal- 
tillo, as it had become at Laredo. Miss Fannin had ex- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 183 

pected to make hardly more than a beginning in the few 
months that she could afford to spend in study, but her 
progress was so rapid that upon her return she was able 
to form classes. She also taught the daughters of the 
governor in their home. 

To break down prejudice, and gain an entrance into 
the families of the better class, our missionaries never 
refused in those earlier days to accept pupils who de- 
sired music, English, or art, but would not consent to 
attend the schools. Many of our warmest and best 
friends have been made in this way. As the schools 
grew large, demanding the entire attention of all en- 
gaged, a good deal of this outside work, as it was called, 
had to be dropped. 

We found that in Saltillo, as well as in Laredo, the 
work had been retarded by the prevalence of smallpox,, 
but Miss Roberts had gotten the four departments in 
running order. The boys, as a separate school, had not 
yet been brought into the same .compound with the 
other three departments, but were in a rented room near 
the Colegio. Ysabel still had the charity school. Her 
ambition at this time was, not to have smarter children 
than the seminary, but to keep even, or one ahead of 
Miss Roberts s school, as she called the Colegio. Miss. 
Roberts good-naturedly allowed her to ignore the fact 
that she and the school were a part of Colegio Yngles. 
To accommodate this department and that of the Wom- 
an's Work, Miss Roberts had erected two good-sized 
rooms at the rear of the premises, thus executing her 
threat of a year ago, to run back. 

It was with great pleasure that we added to this 
year's estimates one hundred and fifty dollars each for 
Woman's Work and Charity School at nearly every sta- 



184 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

tion. As we had confidently expected, our Board rec- 
ognized the need, and gave what we asked. 

As to the boys, they have been considered somewhat 
of an innovation by the Board, and have been left to 
take care of themselves, which they have pretty well 
done, sometimes even handing over a generous sum to 
the other departments. Even had this not been the 
case, I think it would have been a difficult matter to 
have persuaded us to give them up, or to have persuaded 
them to leave us. As Miss Harper is fond of saying, 
" They have come to stay." 

Having studied the needs and planned for the ad- 
vancement of this second child of the Board, our next 
visit was to San Luis Potosi. The prosperity and enter- 
prise of so young a plant would have been a surprise to 
me, had I not known Miss Toland's energy and ability. 
Miss Turner, missionary, and Miss Mason, helper, were 
also eagerly at work. Miss Mason had already found 
some perfectly wonderful children, whom she took great 
delight in showing off, much to my pleasure and amuse- 
ment. Miss Toland finally demurred, saying: "Miss 
Holding has more than she knows what to do with at 
Laredo, and of course they do not seem to be so remark- 
able to her." As I assured her to the contrary, and 
Miss Mason's ardor had suffered no diminution, the 
exhibition went on, to the enjoyment of audience and 
performers. These indefatigable laborers had distributed 
two thousand tracts, from which visible fruit had been 
gathered. On account of delay in building, the Charity 
School and Woman's Work had not been opened. While 
waiting for her school, Eloisa had assisted in other 
branches of work, at the same time studying mathe- 
matics under Miss Turner. 

Even in these few months the old question had aris- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 185 

-en: " What shall we do for more room? " Adjoining, or 
rather cutting into, our property were two rooms and a 
patio. From the first I had felt that this small property 
was indispensable to us, but how to get it was the thing. 
Brothers Norwood and Grimes had traced the owner, 
whom they found did not live in San Luis. After cor- 
respondence and much waiting, it was finally secured, 
rebuilt, and opened up into the Colegio. This gave 
three more rooms, much needed by the time they were 
finished. During this visit to San Luis, I met Mrs. 
Hampton, Miss Mason's mother, my Catlettsburg friend. 
Her helpfulness and kindly manner made her a welcome 
member of the family. I wanted to linger in this lovely 
mission, which bade fair to outstrip its predecessors, but 
time pressed. 

A two days' ride brought us to Chihuahua, which 
city I had not visited since I was there in company with 
Mrs. Park, two years previous. Our missionaries were 
domiciled in their small, portable cottage, in which they 
appeared quite comfortable. Miss Dorsey and Miss Liz- 
zie Wilson accepted the kind offer of lodging from Mr. 
and Mrs. Kilgore, which arrangement left me a cot in 
the cottage. It was indeed a fine property which Mr. 
Kilgore had secured for us, situated on the alameda, 
with its long, double lines of large Cottonwood trees, 
whose summer green and autumn tints make ever a 
pleasant picture. Besides this, and best of all, the 
grounds were large, which meant plenty of room to grow. 
Just now there was only the day school in the old build- 
ing. It was doing well. 

Not many hours passed before Miss A. V. Wilson and 
I were busy with estimates and plans for the coming 
year. Calling Mr. Kilgore to our assistance, we soon 
had an outline of the buildings necessary, and estimates 



188 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

prepared for the Eoard. We expected Colegio Palmore, 
named in honor of its most generous donor, to become 
one of our leading Mission stations. It was too ample 
in proportions, too beautiful for situation, and too many 
hopes and prayers had been centered upon it, for it to be 
otherwise. During the first six months forty-six pupils 
had been under instruction. Miss Arrington, a relative 
of Dr. Palmore, and formerly a missionary to the In- 
dians, taught the music class, which, considering the 
newness of the work, was doing fairly well. 

At this time brother Kilgore was presiding elder of 
the Durango District. Telling him of my great desire 
to visit Durango and put on foot plans for the enlarge- 
ment of our work, he said that he would leave in a few 
days to meet his appointment, and why could not I go 
too? He thought there was no better time in the year; 
except the dust was bad now, but that was much better 
than rain. It took but a moment to decide, especially 
as I had our little Laredo missionary with me. It was 
winter — February — and as a rule the days beautifully 
-clear and bright; but the nights were bitingly cold, 
and as we would have early staits to make, and would 
not reach the night stations until late, extra blankets 
and wraps were necessary. Telegraphing sister my de- 
cision, early one morning found us in truth upon the 
long-talked-of journey. Though Mr. Kilgore was willing 
for us to accompany him, and more than glad to do all 
in his power for our comfort, we could see that he was 
somewhat uneasy. He knew the trip was a hard one, 
^and he feared it would be especially so for me. I assured 
him that I was a good traveler, and could usually with- 
out inconvenience adapt myself to circumstances. We 
left Chihuahua one day, earlier than necessary to reach 
Picardias, at which point we were to take the diligencia 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 189 

for Durango, brother Kilgore thinking that we might 
possibly secure a private conveyance at Laredo, which 
would prove more satisfactory than the crowded diligen- 
cia. One man was found who did sometimes make the 
trip, and who would undertake to land us safely in Du- 
rango, if we were willing to pay the price he demand- 
ed, which brother Kilgore considered too exorbitant 
to give it a moment's thought; besides, there would be 
the long, necessary stops for the tired horses or mules, 
and there might be a scarcity of water. We spent the 
night and following day at a moderately comfortable 
hotel, Miss Wilson and I taking our meals in our room,. 
as no other ladies were seen at the public table. In rest- 
ing and writing letters, the day passed rapidly enough, 
and the evening found us again aboard the train. A 
night and day's travel brought us to Picardias, where 
we would spend one night, taking the diligencia early 
the next morning. As soon as we stepped from the 
train, brother Kilgore rushed forward to secure what 
was looked upon as the best room in the meson, though 
it had only a dirt floor, and no window; but there were 
two passably clean-looking cots, and a door, which 
might have been fastened had it possessed a fastening. 
A mozo soon came to wait upon us, bringing one towel 
and a small pitcher of water. We found that we had to 
depend upon our lunch basket, or go supperless to bed; 
and we had also to take our breakfast from the same 
generous store. Miss Wilson wanted to know if it was- 
worse or better " farther on." Our brother laughingly 
said, " Wait and see." Having secured the best seats 
in the diligencia, which is nothing less than one of those 
old rumbling stages in which I remember once to have 
taken a journey with my mother over Kentucky's hills, 
that scene of my childhood came back to me, as I stood 



190 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

waiting for the baggage to be stored away in the 
"boot." The father, who had traveled many, many 
miles over those same hills, never too weary to preach 
"the unsearchable riches of Christ," had passed away; 
the mother, too, was gone; the daughter — well, I would 
meet them. The sight of the diligencia had sent thoughts 
flying far back into the years, and the journey before us 
of one hundred and fifty miles through dust and over 
mountains had been forgotten. As we climbed to our 
places, I laughingly said, " Not so bad after all." Our 
brother smiled a smile which spoke volumes, but said 
nothing. The little missionary was jubilant and merry. 
The grand old mountains, over which hung the soft 
haze of the early morning, and the crisp, frosty air, had 
sent her blood tingling through her veins, bringing forth 
wit and laughter. A few moments' ride, and we came 
to a narrow pass with towering mountains upon either 
side. The driver asked if we preferred to ride or walk 
through this gorge. We preferred the latter. Keeping 
a somewhat elevated path, we watched the diligencia 
plunge into a narrow arroyo, from which it emerged in a 
cloud of dust that we were glad to have escaped. We 
thought we had seen mountains whose majestic gran- 
deur could not be surpassed; but these seemed to tower 
above us, and in their presence we were as specks upon 
the earth. 

The diligencia was not overfull, and the newness and 
strangeness of the journey kept us for many hours 
from weariness. We had traveled some distance when 
silence fell over the little company. Suddenly I noticed 
our brother with low-bowed head, meditating. After a 
few moments of continued silence, I looked again, and 
saw — he slept. I looked at the other passengers; they, 
too, were unconscious of the passing hours. I turned to 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 191 

our little missionary just in time to see her head give a 
suspicious forward movement. Instantly her eyes were 
opened, and seeing me smiling, she said half laughing: 
■"I don't see how anybody can sleep in this thing!" 

Our first change of horses was at San Diego — no more 
than a changing place, and where we would have a 
short time for taking dinner, which again meant from 
our own baskets, and that, too, in the diligencia. 
"Well," I protested, "we must wash off the dust." 
Our brother smiled again that smile of wisdom, and 
said he would remain by the " stuff." Without heed- 
ing, Miss Wilson and I sought the dueho of this forlorn- 
looking establishment and preferred our request for wa- 
ter. If we had been asking for gold, there could hard- 
ly have been a greater look of surprise. Miss Wilson 
was about to abandon the enterprise, but my persistency 
held on until, by agreeing to pay for it, I succeeded in 
getting a small quantity of water, with which we at 
least gave ourselves a fresher feeling, whether much 
improved in appearance or not. The water was not 
only scarce, but wretched. We would really have suf- 
fered had it not been for the luscious oranges with which 
we had quite bountifully supplied ourselves. We had 
gotten tired and cold before we reached our resting 
place for the night. We found we could have water 
here and have it hot, for which we were grateful. Mr. 
Kilgore never fails to laugh when he recalls Miss Wil- 
son's "Andale, andale! " to the mozo 1 in order to quicken 
his movements, for we were cold and hungry, and the 
thought of a cup of steaming tea, w T hich we so much 
needed, and which we had to make for ourselves, added 
to our impatience, for the hour was late and we had to 
be ready to continue our journey by two in the morn- 
ing. With a prayer in our hearts for journeying mer- 



192 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



cies, we were soon asleep. All too early for our tired' 
bodies, we were aroused in the morning. Every blanket 

and fur robe was 
brought into use 
to keep out the 
stinging cold. 
The curtains of 
the diligencia 
were closely 
drawn, and now, 
without a ques- 
tion of how it 
might be done, I 
slept, not a few 
moments, but 
hours. The sun 
was gilding every 
mountain peak 
when, rousing up, 
I found it had 
been Miss Wil- 
son's protecting 
care that had 
caused me to 
Rob Ferrera. slumber as quiet- 

ly and unconsciously as if I had been in my own room 
at Laredo. Refreshed and strengthened, the morning's 
journey seemed but a pleasant drive. 

As we neared the noon station, the road swept around 
the mountain side, while many feet below stretched a 
broad valley seeming to reach far out to the mountains 
against the distant horizon. "Look!" we cried one to 
another, " it is worth all the discomfort and weariness 
to see nature in such grandeur." 




It was our pleasure- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 193 

to stop — we wanted to drink in all the beauty; but no, 
the driver was as intent on getting in on time as if he 
had been a conductor on the Great Northern. I had 
begged for a piece of lava from, the lava bed through 
which we were bouncing, for I felt sure it would have 
been far more pleasant to have walked; but " no " again, 
and it was not until we were absolutely compelled to go 
slower by the increased size of the stones that our 
brother could climb out, find a small piece of lava, and 
run with speed to get in again. At one of our stopping 
places I had talked quite pleasantly, as I thought, to this 
prompt cochero of ours, and found he had really been on 
the other side of the Eio Grande; after which I was 
more talkative than ever, and really had a kindly feel- 
ing for him, because we had come from the same coun- 
try. But he was not to be enticed from duty. We 
stopped for a new relay of mules or horses, nothing 
more, and because of this Durango was reached just in 
time to the moment. Miss Wilson and I would gladly 
have brushed off some of the dust of travel before pre- 
senting ourselves to our unknown hostess. We were 
covered from head to foot with the fine white dust 
which for hours had been pouring in upon us.„ Our 
brother comforted us by saying: "It does not matter. 
I will introduce you twice." Miss McFarren was ex- 
pecting us, and it did not take long for us to feel at 
home under her bright welcome. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott 
were with her, as was her devoted friend and helper, 
Carmen. The rented home was comfortable, and the 
school doing well. In the home were a few girls whom 
Miss McFarren had had with her for some time, and 
who made themselves helpful in many ways. 

Before starting out the following morning in search 
of suitable property, we bowed in prayer unto Him who 
13 



194 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE. 

moveth upon the heart. This city is said to be one of 
the most fanatical in the republic, and we felt that it was 
not possible to find a permanent abiding place unless He 
should open the way. After visiting a number of places 
we finally united upon one which we thought would 
be sure to accommodate all departments, leaving room 
to grow. Estimates were placed before the Board at 
the next annual meeting; the sum asked was granted, 
and the property became ours. Pages might be written 
of the delay in getting possession; but at last, after 
months of waiting, Instituto MacDonell was an estab 
lished fact, and Miss McFarren was adopted into our 
band of missionaries. 

Our homeward journey was most wearisome. The 
diligencia was crowded, and Miss Wilson was quite sick 
all the way. There never was a more welcome sight 
titan the Central train which was to bear us to San Luis 
Potosi, where Miss Toland was anxiously awaiting us. 
She said: "I was going to telegraph, had you not come 
to night." 

A day or two of rest, and we hurried on, reaching 
Laredo after an absence of three weeks. 

One more advanced step and the year will close. The 
day school in Nuevo Laredo was opened in this year. 
We had thought to save our own children at that point, 
hardly expecting to do more than to put them under safe 
instruction, but many from the outside were drawn in. 

So far every added year had brought breadth and 
strength with added care, but for the latter it mattered 
not so the Master's kingdom advanced. 

It was in the fall of this year that we had a visit from 
Bishop Haygood, his gentle wife, and little Paul. La- 
redo was in her most pleasant mood, calm and quiet, 
while the air was as balmy as one could desire. The 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



195 



bishop's favorite place was in the shade of our china 
trees, just on the border of the garden. Never had 
there been such a wealth of chrysanthemums. Every 




Mattie Barkofcy.— Persia-America. 



shade and size made the whole place a bower of beauty. 
The thought of the bishop brings always the pleasant 
picture formed each afternoon under the china trees. 
An added pleasure on the occasion was the presence of 



196 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

Mrs. Kobertson and baby Lillian, wife and daughter of 
our oft-mentioned friend. 

Another pleasant memory of the year was Miss Ben- 
nett's visit to our home. She came soon after Mrs. 
Park, who had promised to be with us during the Christ- 
mas time. 

A Christmas at the seminary means something in 
these latter years, in the way of taking time and strength 
to prepare for it. Nearly all of the children want to 
" stay over," and nobody must be forgotten. There are 
names and names by the score to write, and then to be 
pinned upon the gifts, then folded or packed or laid 
carefully away in large baskets to be carried to the din- 
ing rooms after the children are far into dreamland, rev- 
eling in visions of Santa Claus. Some of the larger 
ones beg to stay up and help. As soou as we are sure 
the little ones are safely out of the way, the work be- 
gins. Candies, apples, oranges, nuts, toys, dolls, — 

Dolls one, dolls two, dolls not a few, 

Dolls big, dolls little, one for me and one for you — 

handkerchiefs, ribbons, gloves, work boxes, albums and 
albums, with the doll couplet repeated, knives, marbles, 
tops, dresses, aprons, shoes, stockings, books, tablets, 
napkin rings, etc. Every place at the table is laden 
with the Christmas store. If one seems more scantily 
provided than another, then a bountiful place is sought, 
the " name " quickly unpinned, and the article trans- 
ferred. We are adepts in this class of purloining: the 
next morning the happy face of the " scanty one " 
makes the conscience easy. The Christmas morning 
breaks in gladness o'er all the land, and every heart is 
merry, but none more glad and happy than those who 
dwell in our Mission home. We ask our visitors to 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 197 

stand close to U3, near the teacher's door, and watch the 
children come in. Law and order have been set aside: 
at the last tap of the bell the doors open; here they 
come pouring in. Count them. No; impossible. Ah, 
that little one will be run over as she climbs the 
door step, the others are crowding so. No, a larger 
child puts her safely in. Do not be uneasy, she knows 
where to go. At last everyone is seated, and the scene 
which follows is a study. To the right is one who nev- 
er before knew the joy of the present hour. She glances 
shyly at one and another — all are enjoying their own 
gifts and those of the others around them as well; at 
length she ventures to touch, to taste, and for the first 
time feel the pleasure of actual possession. A cry of 
delight bubbling over with happiness reaches us : Lupita 
and Aurora have dolls " as big as me; " here they come, 
bearing them in their arms as tenderly as if they were 
real, sure-enough babies; and not content until every- 
one had praised them and given them baby talk. G-us- 
sie is deep in the mysteries of some book which mamma 
has sent. Ah! there goes a whistle, a signal for a gen- 
eral din; horns, whistles, French harps, all are doing 
their best, while over all rise the gleeful laughter and 
the happy voices. A tap of the bell brings order; a 
word of praise and thanksgiving, then breakfast is 
served; and this, to us, the most gladsome time of all 
the year, becomes a thing of the past. 

If we had been left alone to furnish happiness for so 
many, much of the joy would have been missing. We 
have friends now in Laredo who never forget us. Lu- 
pita and Aurora would not have known the bliss of own- 
ing a doll " as big as me " had not Mr. Stumberg remem- 
bered the Mission home; the mugs and glasses would 
not have been full to overflowing had not Mr. Ramsey 



198 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

generously added to our store. Then there were boxes 
and boxes from the home land, besides one other box, to 
which had been added throughout the year everything 
that would prove suitable for a gift, for this Christmas 
time is in our thoughts as the days roll themselves into 
the months which bring it around. 



CHAPTEK IX. 

1891-1892. 

DROUGHT — BARRACKS — CONFERENCE OF MISSIONARIES — ANCIENT 

MEXICO. 

"Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains 
of thine habitations ; spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy 
stakes." 

THE year of scourge and drought, as we have already 
called that just past, was also one in which the 
keeping power of our Ijord had been wonderfully mani- 
fested. The scourge was gone, and though the drought 
still lingered, we gave it little heed, for by this time we 
had become accustomed to the long rainless seasons, 
and simply accepted the situation. It is true this dry- 
ness had seemed to lengthen itself out, and sometimes 
the thought would come, "It is time the rain were 
here;" still we had not dreamed that it could materially 
affect our work. Many of the children came from 
ranches. When their parents returned with them at the 
opening of the new term, quite a number said: "Unless 
it rains soon, we will have to take our children from 
school. Every day we are losing stock, because the grass- 
is all gone." I think we were equally as obtuse to the 
real condition of affairs, or the dread import of these 
words, as we had been to the " lawsuit " in that second 
year. We missionaries are sometimes as little children, 
taking account only of the things of to-day. Certainly 
in this instance we could only see the present. The 
children, returning from the Christmas holidays, crowd- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 201 

ed around us in their happy way, and we were content. 
This calamity, of which we as yet had no fear, was 
threatening the health and prosperity of every one of 
our Mission homes. Letters from every point of our 
work told of increase in numbers and interest, yet end- 
ing with, "No rain yet," or, "If the rain would only 
come, we would have nothing more to ask." 

Full of hope, courage, and enthusiasm, we pressed on. 
Every missionary was at her post, well and strong. The 
cry of " More room " had for months been coming from 
Saltillo. and now San Luis Potosi, though so young, put 
in a second plea. Durango had just moved into the 
new home, and plans were on foot for improvements. 
The beautiful home at Chihuahua was taking on its 
fair proportions, while at Laredo " being crowded " had 
become our normal condition. 

The boys could no longer find even standing room in 
their old quarters. Something had to be done for them. 
Our friend Dr. Atlee proposed that we should rent his 
home for the barracks — you must remember we were now 
a military school; he had thought of leaving Laredo, and 
would like for us to have his home and grounds, with 
his three boys thrown in. We acceded to his proposition, 
which would have been hailed with pleasure but for the 
thought of losing these friends, who had never for eight 
years lost an opportunity of doing us a kindness. The 
only consoling feature in the arrangement was that our 
missionaries in Saltillo would gain the friends we were 
losing. The boys were enthusiastic over the prospect of 
enlarged premises. They had grown to be so many, 
over sixty this year. Every moment of Miss Harper's 
time was devoted to their happiness and comfort. While 
Professor Koch still drilled them, most of the government 
was in the hands of cadet officers, subject to Miss Har- 



202 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



per's approval. Our first lieutenant at this time was 
Guy — sturdy, faithful, immovable Guy — who made all 
work beautiful by his earnestness. Whether at home 




Three Atlees. 



or at the barracks, when called upon to "put his shoul- 
der to the wheel," he was ever found ready. If he goes 
as bravely through life as his school days with us indi- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 203 

cated, he will surely have the "well done" of his Cap- 
tain when the warfare is over and victory won. 

Miss Wilson had given the boys a handsome bugle, 




Guy. 

and who so ready to learn the calls as Alfredo? The 
clear notes of his bugle aroused us in the early morn- 
ing, while the same silvery tones told that the day, 

With its busy work, was done, 
While night's shadows hastened on. 



204 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

There was one element in Alfredo's character which 
made things possible for others. Once Miss Harper, 
wishing to give a stimulus to English speaking, offered 
a prize to the one who should excel. There was many 
a demur, a "don't know," and "don't care;" but Alfre- 
do's "I know 1 can never win, but I will try" made oth- 
ers willing, until even down to mischief-loving Federico, 
we heard, "I want a speech." Alfredo's prophecy did 
not come true, for one year afterwards he carried off the 
medal. There were three brothers — Alfredo, Carlos, 
Federico. They were with us several years. Then we 
missed them. Upon inquiry, the father said: "The 
drought has pretty nearly ruined me: no water, no 
grass, no crops, the stock nearly all dead. I cannot 
pay." We were beginning to wake up to the fact that 
a drought meant a great deal. 

Among the boys this year were the courteous Santi- 
ago, the pride of every teacher, and the gentle, manly 
Zeferino. As I write, so many of the dear, noble boys 
press forward in my memory — boys whom I may never 
see more this side of heaven's gates of pearl; and I feel 
like breathing for them Miss Harper's prayer, " May the 
Lord claim and keep them all for his service!" 

Early in this year we were made happy by a visit from 
Mrs. Butler, editor of our Woman's Missionary Advocate. 
I was making preparation for my annual round of the 
Mission stations. So quickly do the years fly past in 
this Mission life, if it were not for these dividing lines of 
"memorable days," we should never know where one 
year ended and another began. As T boarded the train 
with Mrs. Butler, eager to show her the grandly beau- 
tiful land of the Aztecs, I almost trembled at the speed 
with which the year had fled. It seemed but a day 
since Miss Wilson and I had started on that never-to-be- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 205 

forgotten trip to Durango, and upon this very spot had 
come to almost a " war of words " with the Pullman 
conductor, as to whether we should or should not carry 
into the sleeper our blankets, pillows, etc., which he 
assured us were prohibited by recent regulations, and 
which we were determined to take in view of the possi- 
ble extension of our journey as far as Durango. Just 
then, feeling the closeness of the sleeper, I turned to the 
much-tried conductor, and with mixed motives asked: 
" Is fresh air also prohibited? " With a quick command 
to the porter, the windows flew open, and turning to 
me, whom he had recognized, he said quite reproachful- 
ly: "Miss Holding, you know how much confusion arises 
from disobedience of orders." He had not finished his 
sentence before I was completely disarmed, and ready 
to send bundles to express car or home, as he might ad- 
vise. The result was, Miss Wilson and I had all we 
could care for on that rumbling jostling, tumbling trip. 
This was to be quite different, as we had the Pullman 
nearly all the way; so I only needed my "big box, lit- 
tle box, bandbox, and bundle," while Mrs. Butler was 
not so bountifully supplied. 

Our first stopping place was Saltillo. As I write a 
faint suspicion comes into my mind that there may be 
danger of missionaries becoming selfish. When I speak 
or write of Saltillo, I think only of our Mission home, 
of Miss Roberts, and " Mollie," the faithful little sister, 
who has spent years in the Colegio; of other friends of 
the faculty, and of the loving, happy, busy children who 
keep a cheery welcome waiting for me. It is so every- 
where we have become established. I believe it is true 
of all the missionaries: we lose sight of every other 
thing except the little center where we rule and live, 
and which has become our world. In Saltillo there are 



206 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



missionaries and Mission homes besides our own. The 
Instituto Madero, under the direction of our Baptist 
brethren, has an older claim than ours, and many of its 




'The Uentie, Manly Zeferino." 

missionaries are the friends of those who dwell in the 
sunlit Colegio Yngles. The Presbyterians came later 
than we in school work under their Woman's Board, 
though they claimed Saltillo as a mission field before we 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



207 



entered. Writing of these Presbyterian friends brings 
to mind our dainty, refined Erminia, who was with us 
two years. She was so quick to learn, so gentle in dis- 




The Faithful Little Sister." 



position, and so beautiful in person, that we had come to 
speak of her as " almost as pretty as Dolores." One 
day her mother came, and much to our sorrow told us 
she was about to leave Nuevo Laredo, going farther into 



208 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

Mexico. She could not leave Erminia. Some loving* 
teacher had given the child a Bible; 1 spoke to the 
mother of it. She made answer: "I do not mind Er- 
minia having your religion, for it is very beautiful and 
very simple;" adding with pathos, "I am too old to 
change.' ' We bade farewell to this gentle Mexican girl r 
never expecting to meet her again in the flesh; not even 
expecting to hear from her. Several years afterwards,. 
Mr. Boyce called to see me at the Colegio Yngles. He 
said he had recently met a former pupil of the semi- 
nary. He had been out upon one of his preaching 
tours; had found Erminia on a ranch with her husband 
and mother; learned that she possessed a Bible, from 
whose blessed pages she daily read for herself and to 
others. He made a preaching point either at her home 
or near it, and she became a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. " In the morning sow thy seed, and in the 
evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not 
whether shall prosper either this or that." 

There are other attractive things in Saltillo besides 
Mission homes, and now as Mrs. Butler was our guest,. 
we could, for the sake of hospitality, allow her to see 
something outside of our flower adorned patio; though 
she said, as Miss Bennett had two years before, upon 
returning from sight seeing, " There is no place so full of 
sunshine as the Colegio." 

There is one thing Saltillo possesses of which she may 
be justly proud: the clear, sparkling water which gushes 
from the mountain side, far up above the city. From 
its dark, hidden depths it bursts forth with such volume 
of power that it would go rushing, leaping of its own wild 
will down into the city, were it not that man's necessity 
and ingenuity have brought it within bounds, carrying 
it whithersoever he will. So it is that fountains play 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 209 

upon the plaza, the water shooting in silvery spray into 
the air as if trying to reach the source from whence it 
came; failing in this, it breaks into myriads of drops 
that, touched by the sunlight, fall in a shower of dia- 
monds, each one glinting, glistening with the changing 
colors of the prism. Farther down we find it gathered 
in a large stone basin, or pila, in the center of the alame- 
da; not solely for ornament, for here in the early morn- 
ing light, and when the cooling shades of evening draw 
near, groups of men, women, and children appear upon 
the scene; some stopping to quench their thirst, others 
filling their water jars and hurrying away. A woman, 
with her blue rebozo falling in graceful folds, turns for a 
moment to look at the stranger who is watching her, 
then hastily filling her jar and lightly placing it upon 
her shoulder, she passes out of sight. Sometimes we 
have the opportunity of speaking of the "living water," 
and our thoughts fly back through the ages unto Him 
who taught the woman of the " city of Samaria, which 
is called Sychar." Still farther down toward the arroyo 
we find the water again, running in a clear, sparkling 
stream near the homes of the poor; cleansing all it 
touches, vivifying, beautifying, until every garden is a 
bower of bud, blossom, and fruit. Then on and on it 
goes, until we find it miles away out at the fabrica, turn- 
ing the busy wheels which tell the story of thrift and 
prosperity. 

Seeing this ever-flowing water, without which this 
Mexican city would be but a barren waste, we can 
easily understand how He, who " spake as never man 
spake," should call himself the " living water " which ever 
satisfieth and cleanseth the soul that seeketh to drink. 

Other things we see which are not so pleasant. Turn- 
ing from the shade of the alameda, we cross to the street 
14 



212 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

leading to the Colegio, a little weary with the morning's 
walk, and busy with the thoughts which ever crowd 
upon us; when, in the midst of this, to us, the most 
interesting people on the earth, suddenly our attention 
is attracted to a man coming down the street with a 
quick, even trot — a movement which belongs alone to 
this cla°s of men, whose fathers have for generations 
been the burden-bearers of the nation. We knew by 
his motion that he bore a burden upon his head; but 
what? As he came nearer we saw a painted box; blue 
and white this one was, not large — in fact, very nar- 
row, and not over two and a half feet long. Ah, yes; 
we knew now — a baby form was being carried to the 
Campo Santo, where the old and young are laid away. 
Where is the mother or brother or sister or some loved 
one who may follow the little one, and know that it is 
quietly and tenderly put to rest? All are not carried 
thus; but this is not an uncommon sight. Once, in 
San Luis, we were out on the pretty drive that leads to 
Sancito. This time the box we saw was long and heavy, 
and the men of burden had grown weary — for it was no 
little distance between the city of the living and the 
city of the dead — and had carelessly thrown themselves 
and that which they bore upon the ground. They were 
chatting and making merry over something which 
pleased them well. The burden seemed about to topple 
over, so carelessly had it been dropped upon a little rise 
of ground. It might have been that no one cared for these 
two, for many, many are the lights which go out with 
no one by, tenderly watching. Once, in Durango, I saw 
another of these painted boxes. This time the man who 
bore it moved slowly, though his burden was very small. 
A woman and a child followed after, flowers in the hands 
of each. It might have been the father who was now 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 213 

the burden-bearer, and the sorrowing heart may have 
been heavier than the form which he bore. 

But a brighter scene comes before us, one with life in 
it. I have seen it sometimes at Chihuahua, but more 
frequently at Saltillo, especially within the walls of the 
Colegio. I do not remember that it was being enacted 
during Mrs. Butler's visit; if not, the reason must have 
been because it was the winter season, for to Miss Rob- 
erts the sight is one of the most beautiful in all of "beau- 
tiful Mexico, 1 ' and within the compound of our Mission 
home it has found daily enactment for many months at 
a time. A picture is attractive according to the man- 
ner in which it speaks to us. In this one, which Miss 
Roberts so much loves, a casual looker-on would pause 
but a moment to satisfy a passing curiosity, while to her 
it brought visions of airy rooms, where eager, happy 
children slumber, wake, and play; where bright eyes, 
innocent and mischievous, too, look into hers as she 
teaches them of Him who gathered little children in His 
arms and blessed them. It spoke, too, of the weary- 
eyed women whose faces grow brighter as they busily 
ply the needle for their children, or hear of Him who 
never refused to help the sorrowing. It tells of crowded 
halls where these same eager children will gather, them- 
selves the actors in the closing scene of the year's drama. 
No wonder she likes to look upon it, for never was 
there a picture which revealed so much to one and told 
so little to another. It is only the adobe makers. How 
busily they work, throwing out a pebble which has no 
place there, putting in the straw, pouring in the water, 
tramping, tramping, tramping in the black loam. Down 
goes the mold upon the dry ground; how quickly they 
pour in the loam; with what deftness the mold is with- 
drawn, and there two perfectly formed adobes remain, to 



214 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



be baked hard and dry in the sun. There is no one to 
say, "Go ye, get you straw where you can find it; yet 
not aught of your work shall be diminished," because 




Miss A. V. Wilson. 



there is no despotic Pharaoh, with his hard taskmasters, 
set over them. They work most of the time as merrily 
as if it were only play. 

A few moments' ride from Saltillo, en route for San 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 215 

Luis, we pass quickly over historic ground. We Mexi- 
cans care little to linger; full well we know that had 
Hidalgo fought the battle of Buena Vista, Taylor would 
have won fewer laurels, in spite of arroyos. 




Miss Mattie Dorsey. 



Our annual meeting was to be held in San Luis Po- 
tosi. I think of this city as a beautiful bird nestling 
among the mountains, but with pinions spread, so lightly 



216 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

does she seem to rest upon her lofty heights. One 
would expect the climate to be far warmer than it is, 
for now we are many miles into the tropics. In the 
childhood days, when I first heard of those imaginary 
lines which run as belts around the earth, shutting out 
the cold and opening up the heat, I could not divest myself 
of the opinion that lines of such power should be seen ; 
and I firmly believed they could, if one were only dar- 
ing enough to make the search. To a traveler who fre- 
quently passes over the Mexican National the cry has 
become familiar, "Look out! there goes the Tropic of 
Cancer." When I first heard it, I sprang to the win- 
dow, then smiled at the remembrance of the old childish 
simplicity; for I saw nothing. Now there is a monu- 
ment, on the north side of which — if the train would 
only stop — one might stand and imagine himself resting 
in the cooling shades of the temperate zone, while upon 
the south the burning rays of a tropical sun would make 
him know the line had been crossed. When I was a 
young girl at my uncle's home in Frankfort, Ky., he 
would often teasingly say to me after my sudden excla- 
mation of distress at the excessive heat or extreme cold, 
as the case might be: "Ah, my daughter, you have been 
looking at the thermometer." Now, as I catch a glimpse 
of the monument as we whirl past it, I think of the dear 
uncle as I push aside the cloak which has heretofore 
been comfortable, and laughingly say to my companion : 
" Do you not think it warmer since we entered the tor- 
rid zone? " 

This annual meeting to which we were hastening was 
looked forward to with a great deal of pleasure. Aside 
from the fact that Mrs. Butler would be present, we 
were to have a large number of missionaries, nine of 
the thirteen who were in the field. Ysabel and Eloisa, 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



217 



our native helpers, were also with us in this meeting. 
Scarcely two years had passed since our last meeting, 
yet what growth there had been! Every station was 
represented. Miss McFarren returned from her home 
in the north in time to be with us and speak for the 
Durango work. She was now in the new home, had 
moved into it on " Tochie's " birthday, in honor of the 
work which she 
and her noble 
husband had be- 
gun years before, 
and for which he 
had given his life. 



The mission in 
San Luis Potosi 
was a marvel of 
growth. All had 
words of praise 
for Miss Toland, 
Miss Turner, and 
Miss Mason; 
while every 
heart was full of 
thanksgiving for 
what things God 
had wrought. 




Luz Carpio. 



We met here again Mr. and Mrs. Winton, Mr. and 
Mrs. Grimes, of the General Board ; Mr. and Mrs. Beall, 
of the Presbyterian; and Miss Duval, of the Eosebuds. 
They were present at different services of our Confer- 
ence, helping us with words of cheer and encourage- 
ment. The partings came; the circle was broken never 
to be formed again. 

Our next point was Guadalajara. We are hard to 



218 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



satisfy — five stations, with their four departments and 
outside schools, only make us long for the sixth. Broth- 
er Grimes had formerly lived in Guadalajara. He said he 




Lucia, A Pupil-Teacher. 



would accompany us, and help us in every way to put 
the place attractively before the Board. 

This was my first visit to this city of one hundred 
thousand inhabitants, said to be second only to the City 



220 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

of Mexico in importance. All the way from San Luis 
was only a fresh revelation of beauty; and by the time 
we reached Guadalajara, we were ready to pay homage 
anew to our beautiful Mexico. 

Rev. J. D. Scoggins and his lovely wife were as 
hospitable as if they had been accustomed all their 
lives to Kentucky blue-grass hospitality. Miss Harper 
whispers, " They are Texans." Of course the first thing 
was to talk over the possibility of securing property, and 
put estimates and plans in shape. We gave a few hours 
to the attractions of the city, one of which was the ca- 
thedral with its massive domes: workmen were there, 
busy everywhere. New tiles were being put on; we 
coveted one of the old ones just taken off. The colors 
were as bright as though a day instead of two hundred 
years of sun and storm had passed over it. Brother 
Scoggins obtained the tile — two. Mine lies now among 
the curiosities of the Laredo Seminary cabinet, remind- 
ing us that Mexico was old when the republic of which 
we are so proud was born. 

Leaving behind us the ancient city, with her paintings 
and carvings of centuries gone, and the dreams awak- 
ened by the thought of the teeming millions who had 
passed and repassed through her busy marts, and were 
now silently sleeping as 'we shall sleep, we were glad to 
get back to real and modern things, such as the tempt- 
ing strawberries of Irapuato. All the year round they 
bloom and ripen, and one may buy them for a trifle put 
up in little round baskets, sometimes with the fresh, 
green leaves artistically arranged around the edges. 
There is a mystery concerning these luscious berries, 
though we have noticed the same at home : the large ones 
are all on top. 

Early in this year appropriations had been made for 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



221 



the Chihuahua work, and the building was now almost 
finished. Mrs. Park had given it every thought and at- 
tention, and in a few short weeks another home would 
be occupied. The day school had grown until the rooms 
put up for it last year were filled to their utmost capac- 
ity. St. Louis 
had given an or- 
gan; Texas Con- 
ference Society, 
with a contri- 
bution from Dr. 
Pal more, gave 
the iron fence 
which adds ele- 
gance to the 
front of this 
home. A few 
days for plans 
for another year, 
and with faith 
and trust w[e 
turned from Chi- 
huahua, whose 
soil had be e|n 
crimsoned and, 
as it were, made 
Miss smither. sacred by the 

blood of the patriot Hidalgo. 

Home again. One of the most important events of 
the year to us was that we graduated a class of five, 
mostly Mexicans, children whose names will be familiar 
to our readers; Candelaria obtaining a certificate in 
mathematics, and a full diploma a year later. Mamie, 
the willing helper in the True Blue Society so long ago, 




222 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



secured a certificate in the School of Science. Lugarda, 
our Monterey child, now the mother of little "Kanita; " 
Alice, the one American — quick, impulsive Alice; and 




Miss Battaile. 



Maria, who scarcely knew but one name, " first baby," 
received diplomas, the latter taking the faculty medal. 

During this year Maria had painted, under Mrs. Bar- 
ker's skillful instruction, a landscape which she had sent 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 223 

to the annual meeting of the Board at Foit Worth, as a 
gift to Mrs. Hayes. It was natural that we should have 
a feeling of pride in this child, who had grown up from 




Miss Tyson. 



babyhood to young womanhood in our midst. The 
auxiliary of San Marcos, Tex., had been forward in 
helping in her education, for several years paying full 
scholarship for her benefit. This tender young girl has 



224 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

well repaid the care and love bestowed upon her, bravely- 
bearing burdens far too heavy for her young shoulders. 

Eev. A. H. Sutherland preached the baccalaureate 
sermon, choosing for his text, "Ye are our epistle writ- 
ten in our hearts, known and read of all men." 

This class graduated under the care of Miss Smith- 
er, of Mississippi, the gentle, dignified cousin of Miss 
Harper, and one of our new helpers of the year. She 
had carried the class forward most faithfully, and they 
were much complimented for the thoroughness of their 
work, their easy self-possession before the public, and 
the beauty and simplicity of their essays. Miss Smith- 
er remained with us another year, and then became a 
helper in the San Luis mission, as did also Miss Battaile, 
a young Texan who had served us faithfully during the 
year. 

We had three other new helpers besides the old force. 
Miss Tyson, a volunteer, assisted in school work, sewing, 
library, and Sunday school, giving us all and more than 
her strength would allow. After leaving us, she mar- 
ried Mr. Onderdonk, a member of the West Texas Con- 
ference, and son of our old friend who, through all the 
decade, had so bountifully supplied us with trees and 
plants. Miss Goree, fair as a lily, and to whom the Mex- 
ican pupils were strong^ attached — they were fond of 
contrast, we laughingly told her; Miss McCulloch, an- 
other Texas girl, now Mrs. Hicks, and still a warm friend 
of our Mission, who was with us a few months and then 
went on to assist in Chihuahua work; Miss Allen, of 
Massachusetts, who came to us through the influence of 
a schoolmate of Miss Holderby, and who grew fond of 
our work and said nothing could ever change her love 
for it. These young girls, with their beauty, life, and 
enthusiasm, cannot realize how much their work will 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 225 

count in the general reckoning. Another Texas girl, 
Miss Shaw, was working and studying with us, and 
many a hard place she helped us to cross. We make 
mention of these, not only because of the help they gave 
us, but for the sake of those who, interested in Missions, 
may read this story and come to know that Mission 
work in home and school is carried forward by many 
hands not known to Mission Boards. Had this work 
depended solely upon the four missionaries who have 
come to its aid, not one-hundredth part of its growth 
and prosperity would ever have been told. 

So beautifully had the boys' work gone forward that 
we were encouraged to accept Dr. Atlee's second propo- 
sition in regard to the property, which was to buy. The 
school term had just closed; the boys had been much 
crowded; they would need more room for August open- 
ing: we yielded to the temptation, and the building with 
its ample grounds became the property of the Board. 

A strain in the early part of the year before and 
the grippe combined to make absolute rest imperative 
for me. My falling out of ranks made the burden and 
care heavier on my sister, and soon she too began to 
show signs of failing strength. For these causes we 
had a few months' rest in our own home. There was 
no break in the work during our absence. One would 
scarcely have known that we had dropped out of the 
great, throbbing, ever-pulsating Mission life. 

During this time Miss Harper superintended the 
building of the boys' dormitories, which were ready by 
the time they returned after vacation. A pleasant little 
scene connected with the new dormitories comes into 
my mind. One of our former teachers, Miss "Texas" 
Jones, of whom mention has been made, wrote a pleas- 
ing little story for the Texas Advocate, in which one of 
15 



226 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



her seminary pupils, " Bowd," played the principal part. 
At this time a friend was sending eight copies of the 
Advocate to the barracks. The evening that brought 




Miss Goree. 



the papers was watched for eagerly, and then " he may 
who can " was the order of the moment, until at least 
eight boys were supplied, while others, if everybody 
was in a good humor, looked over the shoulders of the 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



227 



fortunate ones. One night the mail did not get in until 
after " taps." All was quiet in the dormitories. It might 
have been by intuition that they knew the papers had 




Mrs. Hicks. 



come, for in a few moments thud went a boy from the 
" upstairs " cot, and a white-robed figure made its ap- 
pearance in the study, and quietly slipping a paper from 
the table, seated itself and was soon deep in the doings of 



228 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

" Bowd " — Genaro, one of the twins. Of course he was 
quickly followed by his brother; the "runaway," not to 
be outdone, promptly seated himself beside the twins; 
and thus Miss Harper found them, oblivious to the fact 
that they were transgressors of the law. 

In this home-going, when I was almost too weary to 
think, I can never pay the debt of gratitude 1 owe to 
the faithful helpers who so bravely kept the work up to 
its standard. Mrs. Anderson, whose very name, by her 
six years' labor, has become the synonym of tireless, 
faithful, loving service, cheerfully bore the burden of 
office and finance, in addition to domestic affairs. Miss 
Norvill, from Alabama, who had been with us for sev- 
eral months, took sister's place as superintendent of 
the school, at the same time teaching the senior class 
which had ever been known as "Miss Delia's grade." 
None more competent than she to carry forward the 
work my sister was laying down. To stand at the head 
of a school with its twelve grades and two hundred pu- 
pils is no light or easy task. Miss Lizzie Wilson not 
only kept up her own work, but took in addition to it 
the care of the Nuevo Laredo day school, besides organ- 
izing the West End and Eiver Sunday schools, out of 
which grew the West End day school. Sunday after- 
noons found this same little Scotch missionary in com- 
pany with Miss Dim lap, of Georgia — who had the art 
class for the year — our Candelaria, as we usually said 
to distinguish her from others of the same name, and 
Emil, in their accustomed places under the shade of a 
large palo bianco by the riverside. Benches and tables 
had been placed there to fit it up, some one said, for a 
gambling plac3; but it was deserted at this time. As 
soon as the singing began, the people gathered around 
This river school grew in interest, and many pleasant 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



229 



memories are connected with it One afternoon, a 
mother asked if Candelaria, her eldest daughter, might 
not be taken into the seminary. Miss Wilson hesitated. 




Miss Alien. 



Emil whispered: " Take her; I think we can get up mon- 
ey enough among the teachers." And so it was: with 
the help of " Mamie," the money was collected, tuition 
paid, and a new dress bought. When the history of the 



230 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



child was traced, she was found to have received her 
first Christian teaching under Miss Roberts, and in our 
school at Saltillo. She proved to be a studious, earnest 




Miss Shaw. 



child, whom we would gladly have kept, but the family 
needed her help. She has a pleasant home with Mrs. 
Miller as the nurse of our "niece Margaret." 

If I mention the name of one child, seemingly a hun- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



231 



dred more spring forward asking not to be forgotten. 
Among our little folks were two very small: the "wee 
Willie," who had given Miss Wilson such a fright, and 




Miss Norvill. 

dainty, curly-headed Manuel ita. Willie was a pet and 
source of amusement to Miss Dillard, while Manuelita 
was claimed as Mrs. Anderson's very own child. Wil- 
lie's supply of clothing consisted of a number of dresses 
and aprons, and small pairs of "first pants." One day 



232 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

he was dressed as a girl, and Miss Dillard teasingly said: 
"Ah, here is Sallie Dillard! I wonder where Willie Har- 
per may be found." The wee thing looked down at his 
girl's clothes, then smilingly nestled up to her, quite con- 
tent with the new name. The day following, seeing him 
in the " first pants," she exclaimed: " Why, here is Willie 
Harper! now where is Sallie Dillard? " Much to her sur- 
prise, he turned and soberly said: " Her's in the trunk." 
Ever afterwards it was " Willie " or " Sallie," according to 
the dress he wore. We often laughingly said to Miss Dil- 
lard that she had completely destroyed the child's identity. 
My office, to these two little ones, as it has been to 
many before and since, was a safe refuge from many a 
trial and vexation encountered on the outside. They 
had learned that so long as they played quietly, pictures 
and "waste basket" were at their disposal. Innumer- 
able imaginary letters have passed through innumerable 
imaginary post offices from out that waste basket, which 
was generally preferred to the most beautiful picture. 
One day wee Willie, slipping in and crouching close to 
my right, was soon the sole happy possessor of its con- 
tents. He played so noiselessly that I scarcely knew he 
was there. After awhile Manuelita entered in her pretty, 
shy way, and making direct for the basket, found Wil- 
lie ahead of her. I heard a slight commotion, but gave 
it no attention until voices growing louder, I knew that 
" war had been declared." Looking down at the bellig- 
erent pigmies, I saw that Manuelita had taken possession 
of the basket which both chubby hands grasped. Wil- 
lie, defeated, had crawled to my left, and was peeping 
out at her from behind my chair, while "dog," "pig,'' 
in soft Spanish, were passing back and forth as the only 
available weapons. In spite of myself, I laughed, while 
both children began to cry. Taking the contested prop- 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



233 



erty in my stronger hand, the disputants were soon hap- 
py over an equal division. 

Five months of absolute rest, in the "Indian cabin" 




Miss Dunlap. 



among Kentucky's hills, brought back health and 
strength. There had been nothing to do but lie in the 
hammock under the shade of the locust, and listen to 
the hum of the bees, or the twitter of the birds; or, 



234 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE. 



growing weary of this, to sit on the low stoop and 
watch the passers-by on the distant road; or faithful 
" Charlie " was ever ready to carry us for a morning or 
evening ride, while the dear sister and little Cecil 

watched over us 
with tender care. 
Then there was 
the drive to the 
"Maiden City" 
for a day, with 
the Frisbies, the 
Martins, and oth- 
er friends ready 
to welcome us. 
It was all pleas- 
ant and lovely, 
and we had much 
needed the rest, 
but now the 20th 
of October found 
us waiting impa- 
tiently for per- 
mission to return 
to our adopted 
country. I al- 
most felt as if 
I had been de- 
prived of a part of my heritage when 1 knew the 20th 
would not be spent in the Mission home. It was some 
time in November before we returned to Laredo. Sis- 
ter and I were like children, counting the hours before 
we should be there. Again we were in the midst of our 
large family, glad and happy, while the last year of the 
decade was already unrolling at our feet. 




Manuelita and Florita. 



CHAPTEE X. 

1892-1893. 

FAMINE — TYPHUS — WEST END DAY SCHOOL — WEDDINGS. 

" They got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did 
their own arm save them; but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the 
light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favor unto them." "&o 
didst thou lead thy people to make thyself a glorious name." 

THIS the last of the " decade " proved the fullest 
year of all. It was well that I had the renewed 
strength to enter upon its ceaseless activities and innu- 
merable cares; and also well that I knew not one step 
of the way which had been marked out. The fore- 
shadowing of even one day might have caused my feet 
to falter; yet at its close I was constrained to magnify 
the keeping power of the Master; and as I write of it, 
I see only the "silver lining of the cloud," and under- 
stand better that to the trusting child "all things work 
together for good." I now know that the changes made 
throughout the field, which seemed to disorganize the 
work and throw it for the time being into confusion, 
have resulted in advancement at every station, and 
have also been the means of the extension of our bound- 
ary lines. 

One of the serious causes of anxiety in the opening of 
this year was the continuation of the drought before 
mentioned; not only upon the border, but throughout 
Mexico. I was no longer blind to the import of its dread 
meaning, for the letters which lay on my desk, and the 
messages coming from various sources, informed me that 

(235) 



Jr* I 




- «. —<•*« * 




■*\ 




(236) 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



237 



one and another were unable to return their children on 
account of heavy losses from the drought, the unprece- 
dented depreciation of Mexican money, and the financial 
pressure which touched us so heavily upon this side of 
the Bio Grande. For these reasons, many familiar faces 
which we had 
learned to love 
so dearly were 
missing from 
our ranks. A 
few years b e - 
fore, a Mexican 
gentleman had 
brought us his 
eldest daughter, 
Amelia; not 
many months 
passed before he 
came again, this 
time with Elena 
and Christina; 
coming again, 
he brought three 
boys, Porfirio, 
Ernesto , and 
Santos. There 
were no children 
in all the school so quick and intelligent as Elena, Por- 
firio, and Christina. It had been five years since the 
coming of Amelia. We had begun to look upon them 
as our own children, whose characters we were to 
form, and whose minds we were to train. Among 
the many who did not return, the absence of these 
grieved us most, for there was no gentle hand nor lov- 




Miss McFarren. 



238 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



ing voice of a mother to guide and counsel. We were 
told later that the drought had swept everything from 
the father's ranch. We made several efforts to get the 
children, but to no avail: the father's pride not allowing 

him to accept as 
a gift that for 
which he had 
been accustomed 
to pay. 

I thought the 
distress of our 
border people 
very great, for 
Miss Wilson, who 
was now with 
Mrs. McOlendon 
in town, giving 
her whole time 
to the Woman's 
Class (grown so 
large that it num- 
bered one hun- 
dred and fifty this 
year), was con- 
stantly finding 
out new cases of 




Miss Tydings 



sickness and extreme poverty, and our own doors were 
crowded with anxious parents seeking a home for their 
starving children, until time and time again we were 
forced to ask the question: "Can anything be worse 
than this? " I was answered fully when accompanying 
Miss Harper to San Luis upon her removal from Lare- 
do to assist Miss Toland. She and I remembered the 
city in its beauty and prosperity. We saw it now with 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



239 



its scarcity of water and its streets crowded with fam- 
ishing and starving people. Not a step could we take 
but some thin hand was reached out for caridad. We 
could steel our hearts in a measure against the pleading 
looks of men and 
women, but the 
children with 
their pinched, 
hungry faces, 
and the mothers 
tottering even 
under the light 
weight of the dy- 
ing babe at the 
breast, touched 
us to inexpressi- 
ble sadness. We 
had read of such 
scenes in lands 
with their teem- 
ing millions, but 
had not thought 
ever to see it in 
Mexico, which 
we had never 
known except in 
her garb of beau- Carmen 

ty; and farther 

still from our thoughts had been the possibility of such 
things touching the borders of our own fair land. No 
wonder our steps grew weary, and our hearts faint and 
sick, as these poor creatures followed us to our very 
door, and the last thing before shutting ourselves in, Miss 
Toland put her hand again upon her purse, and said: 





(240) 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 241 

" We cannot pass that one by, for there is a child in her 
arms." As the door closed upon us, and for the time 
shut out these harrowing sights, our home never seemed 
so bright and safe as then. The government had not 
been idle in its efforts to relieve its sufferers: soup 
houses had been opened, and employment provided 
wherever possible, but not until the blessed rains came, 
filling the dry river beds with the welcome rush of wa- 
ters, and covering all the valleys with verdure, did the 
streets of our cities grow clean and quiet again. 

As a fitting companion to this gaunt wolf, famine, 
was the dreaded typhus, which quickly followed in its 
train. Those who had not felt personally the touch of the 
one knew that the other could not be so easily avoided, 
for it caught rich and poor alike in its grasp. 

By constant vigilance and perfect cleanliness — perhaps 
not one out of ten of those who read these pages can 
understand what care and watching it did require — the 
Colegio Yngles at San Luis escaped with only one case 
of the fever developing within its walls, and this was 
quickly removed. In spite of drought and fever, the 
school enrolled as many pupils during the first quarter 
as it had done during the whole of the preceding year. 

Every station in Mexico suffered more or less in this 
year which " tried men's souls." During my visit to I)u- 
rango, I found the scenes of San Luis repeated to some 
extent there, and I knew, through the letters of the 
missionaries, that this distress increased as the year ad- 
vanced. Miss Tydings and Miss Turner were now with 
Miss McFarren, and the work was opening up in every 
department. Since the Pullman had taken the place 
of the diligencia, I could visit Instituto MacDonell with 
as much ease as any of the other homes; and it is 
not in the least behind them in beauty of situation. 
16 



242 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



This school also, in the midst of poverty and famine, 
closed the year with a large increase in numbers. 

I remember with amusement an incident of this visit 




Lola Fierros. 



to Durango. A marriage, to be valid in Mexico, must 
have the ceremony performed by the civil authorities. 
This is all that is necessary, unless the contracting par- 
ties desire a second by the clergy. The morning of the 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 243 

•day I reached Durango, a girl who had been helping in 
Miss McFarren's family was married by the magistrate. 
Being in a measure a member of the family, and the 
man to whom she was married a creyente, or probably a 
member of the Church, it was the desire of all who were 
interested in them to have the ceremony repeated by 
one of our ministers. Brother Grimes was chosen to 
officiate, the time appointed being immediately after 
the evening sermon. The groom walked to the altar in 
a dignified, quiet manner befitting the occasion ; he stood 
for a second, then glanced uneasily at the bride who, 
with covered face and trembling form, was seated on 
the opposite side of the room. Some one spoke to her, 
helped her to her feet, and led her toward the altar; 
when she uncovered her face we saw that she was shak- 
ing from suppressed laughter, which gradually got be- 
yond control and broke into little titters. A general 
smile broke over the congregation, and grew into ripples 
of laughter. It was a mystery to me how the minister 
iind groom preserved their gravity; but the one grew 
more stern, and the other more serious, until the closing 
words released them from their embarrassment. 

The West End and Eiver Sunday schools at Laredo 
had shown the necessity of a day school where the 
children who had been gathered into them might receive 
instruction. This day school was opened in February 
of 1893. Lola Fierros, one of our " original seven," was 
teacher. Before the year closed eighty children had 
taken advantage of this new work. The rent of the 
schoolroom was for some time paid by the Lizzie Wilson 
Band, Newport, Ky. Miss Wilson had oversight of this 
school until after her attack of fever which made it nec- 
essary for her to have a change. Laying down her work 
for a season, and we thought only for a few short 



244 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



weeks, she went to San Luis for complete rest. She 
improved so rapidly that when it became necessary for 
Miss Toland to return to the States, she remained to su- 




Miss Watts. 



perintend in her place, and thus for months was absent 
from the Laredo work. Before her going, and after- 
wards, our hearts were cheered by the steady influx 
of boxes and barrels of clothing, secondhand and new. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 245 

Many a shivering form and many a sick mother and 
child were made comfortable by this generous giving of 
those in the home field who had so quickly responded 
to our appeal for the poor. When I knew it had become 
necessary for Miss Wilson to remain in San Luis, I 
grieved over the loss to the women, and could not rest 
until I reorganized the class. This I was enabled to do 
by the help which Mrs. Anderson and Miss Watts could 
snatch from their pressing duties at the seminary. 

Miss Watts was a volunteer from Missouri; frail, phys- 
ically, as an anemone, but possessing will power and 
strength of character to' such a remarkable degree that I 
soon found myself depending upon her in the manage- 
ment of the boys as I had upon Miss Harper. Only 
two afternoons could I give the women, which seemed 
little when they had become accustomed to Miss Wil- 
son's entire time. A number of them showed their 
gratitude by offering to help me with the new ones; 
never too busy to lay aside their own work, to put in 
order the sewing machine for one, or teach the lesson 
verse to another. The class was held in two rooms of 
Mrs. McClendon's house, near the large one used for her 
day school. It was an inspiration to me to see her hap- 
py school children, nearly two hundred now, as I passed 
them on my way to the Woman's Work, or stopped a 
moment for a word with Mrs. McClendon, or to speak 
to two of the seminary girls who were her interested 
assistants. 

At one time Mrs. McClendon had with her Lucinda, 
who, with her sister Celia, had come to us in the early 
years from Saltillo, through the influence of brother J. 
F. Corbin. Sister, from the first, was attracted by Lu- 
cinda's aptness to learn, and she soon came to be known 
as "Miss Delia's child." She learned music readily, and 



246 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



became our organist after Ysabel left us. After her 
marriage she was very efficient in the same service in 
the native church in town. Her husband is superintend- 




Lucinda. 



ent of the West End Sunday school in which 1 have a 
class, and where I sometimes see baby Alejandro, who 
never fails to respond to my greeting with answering 
smile. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



247 



The Nuevo Laredo day school with its seventy pupils, 
was this year in charge of Constanza, another of our 







Alejandro. 

children. Ah, yes, it is true: the ten years have made 
men of the boys and women of the girls. The boys 
slip away from our grasp more quickly than girls, and 
begin earlier to put the shoulder to the wheel. As I 



248 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

stop to think of them, how many they seem! Edwin, 
Alfredo, John, Justo, Antonio, Eoy, Lot, Porfirio, Kegulo, 
Louie, and a host of others; though I may not write all 




Arnulfo. 



their names, I can ever keep them enshrined within my 
heart. These have passed forever outside the home, while 
others are lingering there: the gentle Zeferino, whom the 
fever came so near taking from us; the Zuazna brothers, 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



249 



strong Arnulfo, and modest Edmundo, already grown 
into the affections of Mrs. Driver, our new helper from 
Texas, and one of the blessings of the year. As she 




Edmundo. 



trains the awkward, boyish fingers to bring out sweet 
melodies with ease and skill, their characters are at the 
same time touched by the gentle grace of her own. 
There is no talent laid upon the altar of service which 



250 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



yields a richer harvest than that of music. Following- 
close to this, as we have mentioned before, is art. This 
year our art department has been under the care of Miss 




Mrs. Driver. 



Park, granddaughter of our friend. We find her ever 
willing, ever efficient in and out of school. 

In 1892 we raised the standard of the school which 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



251 



threw our senior class out of their well-deserved honors, 
and gave them and us another year together. 

How many new workers came to us this year! Some 




Miss Park. 



came as teachers, some on trial as missionary workers, 
not only tit Laredo, but at all the other stations; we 
may count them by the score, but scarcely one but made 
a clear record of conscientious service. I may mention 



252 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

them all, that their names may live in Mexican Missions 
interlinked with those of our missionaries. There was 
Viva, one of our own children, who taught for us two 




Miss Philpott. 



years, and Miss Philpott, daughter of our pastor; Misses 
Wyley, Lawhan, Buntyn, and Cox, and Miss Shaw, who 
was with us again from the Scarritt Bible and Training 
School. At Saltillo: Misses Bassett, Gill, and Ballard, 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



253 



and Mrs. Moore. At San Luis: Misses Kodgers and 
Jandell, with Miss Toland's own sister, Dr. Irene Toland. 
At Durango: Misses Wilson and Fourqueean. Chihua- 




Miss Wyley. 



hua: Misses Blincoe, Morrow, and Shera. Montana, 
Virginia, Texas, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Alabama, 
Missouri, Mississippi, Florida, Connecticut, Georgia, 
Michigan, and distant Ireland, sending to us their best, 



254 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE. 



and claiming in return a part in this work for the Mas- 
ter. 

Our annual meeting this year had been appointed for 




Miss Lawhan. 



Saltillo, but many conflicting circumstances combined to 
make necessary a change of both time and place, though 
by so doing we lost the pleasure of the presence of 
Bishop Hendrix, who was to stop over at Saltillo on his 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



255 



way to the Border Conference at Monterey. As only 
four missionaries could be present, and three were al- 
ready at San Luis, we thought it best to remain there 









VWB 


^mMMi*;-' "* ilKm^- 










"*^# 










■e 

1 

j 

1 
! 

i 



Miss Buntyn. 

and have Miss Eoberts come to us. I had heard of my 
sisters illness and was anxious to return to Laredo, hav 
ing been out several weeks on my annual round. 

I had never seen Chihuahua so pretty as I found it 



258 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



this year. It had been less affected by the drought than 
any of the other cities where we were established. I 
had never seen it before in its autumn dress, and this 




Miss Cox. 



was the first time I had stayed long enough to enjoy its 
beauties. It was at Colegio Palmore that I first met 
Bishop Hendrix. A few weeks afterwards I had the 
pleasure of hearing him preach in Faith Hall. His 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



257 



words of commendation of our Mexican work, coming 
as they did at the close of ten years' toil, made it easier 
for me to take up the work of another year. Neither 




Miss Frances Gill. 



can I forget his words of sympathy in the great trial 
through which I was passing. On reaching Laredo, I 
found that my sister had been near death. Her ex- 
treme illness had been kept from 'me, though I knew 
17 



258 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



she had not been well. Therefore, I was not prepared 
for the shock that awaited me at the door of her rcom, 
I entered with some laughing remark about her not 




Miss Fourquecan. 

waiting until I got home to help nurse her, but the first 
sight of her pale face froze the words upon my lips, 
and a sudden chill came to my heart, while life and 
work and every earthly interest faded. I saw only 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



259 



what I might have lost, what I still might lose. As she 
came back to life and strength, I thought of the other 




Miss Morrow. 

trials of the year, compared to what might have been, as 
but specks upon the horizon of a dim past. 

It was during the latter part of this year that Miss 
Fannin's health gave way, and she was forced to leave 
her work at Saltillo and seek rest and change at Lare- 



260 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



do. Our warm, dry winter soon brought returning 
strength. Acting upon the doctor's advice, she remained 
with us during the winter. The help she rendered in 




Miss Shera. 



hospital and office, though herself so frail, is one of the 
silent heroisms with which Mission life is filled. 

About this time I received a letter from Bishop Dun- 
can asking for the name of a Mexican child, as he and 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



261 



Mrs. Duncan desired to help educate one, and saying he 
would be glad to have her named "Dora," for Mrs. Dun- 
can. A few months before, we had received into our 




Capt. E. H. Sanvignet. 

family the five-year-old sister of Florinda, whom, just 
before passing from out our lives, she had asked us to 
take in her place. We knew of no one so cunning and 
bright as this five-year-old baby. Gaining the mother's 



262 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

permission, I had her baptized " Dora Duncan Mancil- 
las." A few weeks passed, when Bernarda came to us 
laughing: "Dora wants me to ask you to please say to 
her teacher that as she is now an American, and the 
bishop's daughter, she is never to be punished." 

Writing of Dora brings to mind two other children of 
the same age, who brightened the home for a few 
months: "Bessie," the baby sister of Miss Philpott, a 
perfect fairy of grace and beauty; and " Stone," the lit- 
tle friend of Miss Norvill, from San Antonio. " Stoni- 
ta," as we called her, was a sturdy little thing, and as 
original as sturdy. The first evening she was with us 
Miss Norvill and I, accompanied by Stonita and twen- 
ty or more other children, went down to the river to 
see the sun set, and watch the glow upon the water- 
One of Laredo's attractions is the marvelous beauty of 
the sunset. The low, broad plain against a slight rise 
of the western bank of the Rio Grande leaves an un- 
obstructed view. 'No artist pencil can paint the glowing 
scene, for no artist soul can catch the changing tints. 
It has come to be almost the invariable evening cry, 
"Come quickly, see the sunset! " On this special even- 
ing we elder ones were quietly chatting as the children 
ran on before, to see who might first reach the white 
sand on the river's bank. The language of the chiidren 
was strange to Stonita; several times while going down 
she ventured to run ahead with the others, but in a mo- 
ment was back again to clasp Miss Norvill's hand. 
After reaching the sand her timidity gave way, and she 
ran and played as the others, waking all the echoes 
with happy laughter. As we returned, Stonita walked 
ahead quite independently, jabbering in the most unin- 
telligible manner: once or twice she ran up to Miss J^or- 
vill, who gave no heed except to smile upon her. The 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



263 



little thing finally became quite indignant at receiving 
no response, and burst out with, " Why don't you answer 
me? Don't you hear me talk like the chillens? " 

By Miss Norvill's request, jail work was introduced 
this year, and 
by common 
consent it be- 
came the spe- 
cial work o f 
Servando, Miss 
Norvill going 
with him. 
Someti mes 
they were ac- 
companied b y 
one of the la- 
dies, or some 
member of the 
senior class. 
Servando soon 
became great- 
ly interested 
in the prison- 
ers, and they 
learned to 
watch for him, 
as the one ray of light in their dark lives. -Rev. J. 
W. Grimes, our presiding elder, was with us soon after 
the jail work was organized, and, as usual, preached 
his quarterly sermon. Servando, now Lieutenant Es- 
quivel, was a thoughtful, earnest boy, but knew noth- 
ing of religious experience. As the cadets filed into 
their places, he took his seat beside them, wholly un- 
conscious of the mysterious change which was to pass" 




Servando. 



264 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

over his life. After the sermon, and when all were 
again upon the grounds, he sought Miss Watts and said: 
" What is it? I cannot understand. I went into Faith 
Hall just as I have always been, and I came out with 
a strange, new feeling filling all my soul with peace 
and love." He bent with new zeal and energy to his 
work among the prisoners, and had the joy of know- 
ing that some of them had passed from darkness into 
the marvelous light of our Lord and Master. One Sun- 
day afternoon he wanted me to go with him to the jail. 
I saw how eagerly the men gathered around him and 
hung upon his words. As we knelt upon the stone 
floor, they knelt too; and the rich young voice, with 
praise, thanksgiving, and supplication, made resonant 
the dim prison walls. Some said : " We did not know that 
good could come from being in prison, and now we can 
never be thankful enough for coming here." I turned 
away with tears in my eyes, and my heart full of j^raise 
for another blessing which dimmed many of the trials 
of this last year of the " Decade." Often throughout 
this year children were quietly brought into the light; 
sometimes it would be a group of two or three, and once 
seven came. There was no especial talk about it, for 
we were beginning to look upon such scenes in Faith 
Hall as not being out of the usual order of things. 

It was during the summer of this year that a num- 
ber of citizens, headed by Mr. Mims, Roy's father, be- 
came interested in the boys' school; and though it was a 
hard year, they did not rest satisfied until they gave a 
substantial evidence of their desire to see the work ad- 
vance. Just at this time assistance was most oppor- 
tune; for the dormitories were being built, and then 
were to be furnished. A dear aged lady of Greer coun- 
ty, Texas, Mrs. E. H. Sutherland, wrote to Miss Harper 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 265 

telling of her interest in Missions, and just now espe- 
cially in the boys' school. She did not know whether 
there had been sufficient money to finish the dormitories, 
so sent a check for fifty dollars, which was expended in 
furnishing. Other manifestations of interest have come 
from the same trembling, loving hand. 

Mentioning again the boys' department brings to 
mind incidents in the lives of Louie and Edwin. One 
of the big burdens at the seminary has always been that 
of getting the weekly laundry work finished up in order 
and on time. Before the machinery was even thought 
possible, and when there was only one old English man- 
gle for sheets, towels, etc., sister and the girls had charge 
of it. We were quite proud when the machinery was 
put up and we had regular hands. We felt our burden 
less. I do not know how it is in other enterprises, but 
in Mission work regular hands do not amount to very 
much, lasting only a little while. Every department, 
domestic included, requires the devoted interest of a 
missionary in heart and purpose, if not in name; for 
economy is the watchword; though necessarily in large 
families there is waste. After the hands left, our little 
Scotch missionary had the laundry work in charge, 
which means always with us the doing of the greater 
part of it. When the Woman's Class demanded all of 
her time, Mrs. Anderson assumed this duty among 
many others. Our faithful Eligio, who was our stand- 
by for many years, learned to manage the engine pretty 
well, but Louie and Edwin were our main dependence 
as engineers. While Louie was in school he gave one 
day of each week to the running of the engine. Though 
acquaintance with the intricacies of machinery combined 
with his carefulness keeps Edwin in good employment, 
he has never been too tired in his off hours to see to the 



266 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



seminary engine, or run it a half night, when other en- 
gineers have failed. It has become a natural thing to 
say, when things do not run smoothly at the laundry: 




" Telephone Edwin ; and if he cannot come, maybe Louie 
can." Often in our Mission life we have been made to 
feel that we were the recipients instead of the donors, so 
full has been the reward. 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



267 



The Saltillo work this year showed advance in every 
department. Miss Roberts had utilized every inch of 
the long strip of land which Mr. Powell had prophesied 







Dr. Florence E. Collins. 



she would find advantageous. Joining the ground of 
the Colegio was a strip of land with a few old adobe 
rooms. Miss Roberts learned of the desire of the own- 
er to sell this, and was enabled through the efforts of a 



268 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

friend to purchase. She had run back as far as possible, 
and it had become necessary to turn in some other di- 
rection, for the cry of more room still continued. This 
property gave us an east frontage, which was donated 
to the General Board, and upon which, through the ef- 
forts of Eev. J. W. Grimes, a neat little church was 
erected. Back of this still remained ample space for 
building, which Miss Eoberts was not very slow in util- 
izing. 

Dr. Florence E. Collins, desiring to see something of 
Mexico, readily consented to go with me to Saltillo to 
the dedication of the little church, which we considered 
quite an event in the history of our Saltillo mission. 
Kev. G. B. Winton preached the dedicatory sermon. 
Some of us were full of quiet joy, for it was another 
evidence of the "good hand of our God upon us," and 
we know in this place "joy and gladness" should be 
found; " thanksgiving and the voice of melody." 

Dr. Collins had, at the seminary, classes in chemistry 
and physiology, but was with us chiefly as our resident 
physician. Visions of hospital work floated before me 
in connection with the Mexican Mission, as the fifth de- 
partment. I had so longed for it; and now as I saw 
Dr. Collins relieving the many ailments in our own 
home, besides visiting the homes of the poor with Miss 
Wilson, how did I know but that this was to be the be- 
ginning of the fulfillment of that long-desired hope? 
Not yet has it come, but surely it will, for no mission 
work is complete without its hospital. As marvelous as 
has been the growth of our Mexican Mission, it would 
have doubled or even trebled its influence, had this fifth 
department been one of its accessories. Who docs not 
turn with grateful love and willingness to listen to one 
who has brought relief to the suffering body? As I 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 269 

write of Dr. Collins, I remember that this is her wed- 
ding day, the thought of which brings to mind similar 
scenes throughout the year, and I begin to realize that 
this story of Mission life in Mission homes is going to 
close, as a good story should, with weddings at the end. 
One of them, that of Rev. Mr. Grimes to our little San 
Luis friend, Miss Ida B. Duval, of the "Rosebuds," took 
place in the seminary parlor. If our rugs, those of the 
early days, which still lie peacefully side by side, could 
speak, we might induce them to tell how our native pas- 
tor, Rev. A. Cardenas, wanted to perform the ceremony 
in Spanish, and how the most interested parties deter- 
mined it should be in English; how the hour of their 
train to leave drew near and nearer; how the officiating 
clergyman grew nervous as the difficult English came 
slowly; how his nervousness was not lessened by a sim- 
ilar state of the bridegroom, who from time to time, by 
prompting, helped forward the proceedings; how after- 
wards Mrs. McClendon said, "You married yourself." 
But rugs are silent things, and tell no secrets. 

During the vacation, Miss Dunlap went to Monterey 
to have a better opportunity of studying Spanish, but it 
is said that the first verb of the first conjugation, amar, 
threw its potent spell over teacher and pupil, making 
both content to rest beneath its mystic power. This may 
have been true, for one bright, lovely day the organ of 
Faith Hall pealed forth the wedding march as Mr. and 
Mrs. Rubin turned to leave the altar. 

A few years before the time of this writing, a lady 
came to me during one of my visits to Saltillo, bringing 
with her a fair young girl of Spanish and French de- 
scent. The mother was dead, the father married again, 
and it was the oft-repeated story: the child was not hap- 
py with the new relation. The lady had rescued her. 



270 



A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 



from her unhappiness, and now wanted to find not only 
a home for her, but a place where she might be edu- 
cated. It was arranged that if she proved to be happy- 




Maria. 



and content with me, she should remain until she com- 
pleted the course of study. So it was that Anita be- 
came as my own daughter. With one or two excep- 
tions, she clung to me more as a child to its mother 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



271 



than did the other inmates of the school, and claimed, 
more decidedly, the seminary as her home. A native 




Luis and Anita. 



preacher met this daughter of mine: to him no other so 
fair, no other for whom he could ever care. Luis was 
honorable and true, mild and gentle in temperament, a 



272 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

strong contrast to Anita, whose passionate, impulsive 
nature kept her ever in smiles or tears: I scarcely re- 
member ever seeing the child on medium ground. He 
was some years older than she, and we were content to 
give her into the care of this strong, quiet man ; but we 
saw no need of hurry: Anita was young, and needed 
two years more of school. I have heard sometimes of 
the care and tribulation through which mothers have 
had to pass, when dealing with impatient lovers, but I 
had not experienced it before. Luis would not be put 
off, and as he had Anita on his side, the point was 
gained, and the wedding came at the Christmas time. 
When brother Cardenas learned that the date of the 
marriage had been positively determined, he came to me 
one morning having a very important matter in hand. 
Most earnestly he told me that two marriages in a year 
at the seminary were quite enough, and he felt it would 
be far better to have this third one at his house, the 
Mexican parsonage. As my habit was to consider any 
suggestion of the pastor, -whom I knew had every inter- 
est of ours at heart, I said: "I will speak to Anita; it 
rests with her." I found her in my room, merrily hum- 
ming as she worked Luis's monogram on a handker- 
chief. At the first intimation of brother Cardenas's sug- 
gestion, she, in a passion of tears, threw herself upon 
the lounge, and declared: "Luis can marry somebody 
else; and I will tell him so. I just would like to know 
who ever heard of a girl marrying any place but home, 
when everybody is willing. JSTo; if 1 can't marry in 
Faith Hall, I'll not marry at all; that is all there is of 
it." I could not help laughing over her passionate ear- 
nestness. I hastened to assure her that the matter was 
in her hands, and everything should be arranged as she 
pleased. Breaking into smiles, she impulsively kissed 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 



273 



me, and in a moment afterwards was chatting happily 
over the pretty wedding dress, the gift — according to 
Mexican custom — of Luis. 




Miss Delia Holding. 

There is just one other marriage to chronicle, the con- 
summation of which reaches into the year of this writ- 
ing. It was probably in the winter of 1886 that I was 
called from the office one day to meet a Mexican mother 
with her two children, whom she wished to place in 
18 



274 A DECADE OF MISSION LIFE 

school. I was instantly attracted by the blue eyes and 
fair hair of the younger child, and said somewhat coax- 
ingly to the mother: " Give me this one, and I will take 
the other." To which she gave ready consent. The lit- 
tle one, understanding the agreement, put her hand con- 
fidingly into mine. She grew into young womanhood 
in our midst, becoming a great favorite with Miss Wil- 
son, to whom she was devotedly attached. Toward the 
close of this year, Mrs. McClendon was in need of an- 
other assistant. We arranged that Maria should go to 
her help, and become a member of her family. Mrs. 
McClendon soon became as partial to her as Miss Wilson 
had been, and no one would have known but that Maria 
was as much the daughter as Attie. I was happy be- 
cause she was so content. She had been in her new 
home but a few months, when Mrs. McClendon told me 
of her engagement. I could not refrain from express- 
ing my pleasure that this case was to be managed by 
Mrs. McClendon, as I felt sure she was much more skill- 
ful than I in that line of work; yet it was not all smooth 
sailing, even with her trained hand upon the helm, for 
once she told me: "You will have to take care of your 
own children after this; lovers are two much trouble." 
Now that they are married, a looker-on could not tell in 
which she takes most pleasure — her own daughter, Mrs. 
Miller, or my adopted one, Mrs. Hanson. 

Why write more? Pages could grow into volumes, 
and this Decade of Mission Life in Mission Homes would 
yet remain unfinished; for the many lives that have 
been touched and quickened into higher form are influ- 
encing other lives, the circle is ever widening, and who, 
again I ask, may set its boundary lines? I make an- 
swer: None but He who by his own power hath veri- 
fied unto this Mexican Mission his own words: "There 



IN MEXICAN MISSION HOMES. 275 

is no man that hath left house, or brethren or sisters? 
or father or mother, or wife or children, or lands, for 
my sake and the gospel's, but he shall receive a hun- 
dred-fold now in this time, houses and brethren and sis- 
ters and mothers and children and lands, with persecu- 
tions; and in the world to come eternal life." 



s« 






RSISOH 











